Transcription profiles of mitochondrial dynamics markers are altered in men with teratozoospermia

The aim of the study was to correlate the transcriptional profiles of mitochondrial dynamics markers in spermatozoa with seminal-plasma-hormones-levels. Samples of semen were collected from 56 normozoospermic (N) and 377 teratozoospermic (T) men undergoing ART procedures. Testosterone (N-16/T-21), cortisol (N-13/T-16), and nitrites (N-45/T-316) were quantified in seminal plasma. Spermatozoa from a representative cohort (N-10/T-10 individuals) were used for real-time PCR analysis of transcripts for 10 genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis ( PPARGC1A , PPARGC1B , TFAM , NFE2L2 ), fusion ( OPA1 , MFN1 , MFN2 ), fission ( FIS1 , DRP1 ), and mitophagy ( PINK1 ). Results showed that seminal testosterone/cortisol ratio was lower in T-spermatozoa. T-spermatozoa expressed higher levels TFAM and MFN2 transcripts, but lower NFE2L2 . Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation of spermatozoal NFE2L2/FIS1 and nitrites in seminal plasma of N-men. In contrast, no correlation and a moderate positive correlation for NFE2L2 and FIS1 transcripts were observed in T-patients. A negative correlation was found between the spermatozoal PPARGC1A , PPARGC1B , MFN1 , OPA1 , PINK1 and seminal nitrites of N-men, but only a very weak to moderate correlation was evident in T-patients. An opposite correlation was observed for OPA1 transcripts in T-patients, compared to a negative correlation in N-patients. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a tendency toward separation between normozoospermic and teratozoospermic patients.