EXPRESSION OF FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 2 (FGF2) IN THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT AND ITS ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF SPERM PHYSIOLOGY

SAUCEDO, LUCÍA; MÜLLER, CAROLINA; LA SPINA, FLORENZA; BUFFONE, MARIANO; VAZQUEZ LEVIN, MÓNICA; MARIN BRIGGILER, CLARA ISABEL

Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Jornada; XVIII Jornadas Anuales Multidisciplinarías de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología.; 2016

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) and its receptors (FGFRs) have been described in different tissues, where they regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, motility and apoptosis. However, there is not enough evidence of their expression in the reproductive tract and gametes and their involvement in the maintenance of sperm physiology. The objectives of the present study were: 1) to determine the presence of FGF2 in the murine female reproductive tract, and 2) to assess the role of the FGF2/FGFRs system in the regulation of sperm function. The expression of FGF2 isoforms (18, 20.5 and 21 kDa) was observed in protein extracts from the uterus and oviduct of adult mice by SDS-PAGE followed by Western immunoblotting (WIB) using anti FGF2 antibody. Immunofluorescence studies showed FGF2 localization in the epithelial cells and in the lumen of the uterus, isthmus and ampulla of different stages of the estrous cycle, as well as in the cumulus-oocyte complex. In sperm, the presence of the 4 FGFRs was determined by WIB and flow cytometry, and they were localized in the flagellum and acrosomal region by immunocytochemistry. Incubation with recombinant FGF2 led to an increase in the percentage of motile sperm in comparison with the control, but it did not affect sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation or the occurrence of acrosomal exocytosis (n≥4). In conclusion, this study shows that FGF2 is expressed in tissues of the female reproductive tract, that the FGFRs are present in the sperm cells, and that this system would be involved in the regulation of sperm motility.