Semen testis expressed protein 101 and spermatid-specific thioredoxin reductase 3 levels may be biomarkers in infertile male

Objectives: We aimed to determine the differences between normozoospermic and oligozoospermic individuals according to levels of spermatid-specific thioredoxin reductase 3 (SPTRXR3/STRX3/TXNDC8/TXNRD3) and testis expressed protein 101 (TEX-101), and to evaluate the correlations between spermiogram data and biochemical parameters. Methods: The study was carried out at the Andrology Laboratory of Medicine Faculty of Selcuk University. Two groups were designed: Group 1: Normozoospermia (n=40, sperm concentration ≥ 15 million/mL), Group 2: Oligozoospermia; (n=40, sperm concentration < 15 million/mL). Seminal plasma SPTRXR3 and TEX-101 levels were analyzed with ELISA method. Spermiogram analysis was evaluated according to WHO 2010 Kruger criteria. Results: TEX-101 protein levels were significantly different in normozoospermia (2.12 ± 0.08 ng/mL) compared to oligozoospermia (1.55 ± 0.04 ng/mL). SPTRXR3 levels (6.98 ± 0.46 ng/mL) were higher in oligozoospermia than normozoospermia (3.07 ± 0.35 ng/mL). Both TEX-101 and SPTRXR3 levelswere correlated statistically withmost of the spermiogram parameters. Conclusions: High SPTRXR3 and low TEX-101 levels may be a biomarker in evaluation of male infertility. The relations between spermiogram parameters indicates that results present a new clinical approach in biology of oligozoospermic male.