Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is present in human spermatozoa and is involved in sperm motility

SAUCEDO L; VAZQUEZ-LEVIN MH; GARBARINO AZÚA DJ; NEUSPILLER F; GIORDANA S; MARÍN BRIGGILER CI

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC); 2016

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is present in human spermatozoa and is involved in sperm motilityGarbarino Azúa DJ1; Saucedo L1; Giordana S2; Neuspiller F2; Vazquez-Levin MH1; Marín Briggiler CI1.1 Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET-FIBYME); 2 Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI). Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) have been described in several processes in somatic cells, but there is scarce information of their relevance in sperm function. Previous studies from our group have shown the presence of FGFRs in the head and flagellum of human spermatozoa and their participation in motility regulation. The objectives of this work were to determine: 1) the presence and localization of FGF2 in the male gamete, 2) the relationship between sperm FGF2 levels and routine semen parameters, 3) the effect of recombinant FGF2 (rFGF2) on the recovery of motile spermatozoa in a selection procedure (swim-up). Semen samples were obtained from donors or patients attending an infertility clinic. Spermatozoa were subjected to Western immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry or flow cytometry using anti FGF2 antibody. Semen parameters were analyzed according World Heath Organization guidelines (2010). A FGF2 form of 18 kDa was found in human sperm extracts, and the protein was localized in the sperm head (acrosomal region) and flagellum. Sperm FGF2 levels showed a significant positive correlation (P