Skip to Content
Merck
  • Prolyl Endopeptidase (PREP) is Associated With Male Reproductive Functions and Gamete Physiology in Mice.

Prolyl Endopeptidase (PREP) is Associated With Male Reproductive Functions and Gamete Physiology in Mice.

Journal of cellular physiology (2015-09-04)
Raffaele Dotolo, Jung Dae Kim, Paolo Pariante, Sergio Minucci, Sabrina Diano
ABSTRACT

Prolyl endopeptidase (PREP) is a serine protease which has been implicated in many biological processes, such as the maturation and degradation of peptide hormones and neuropeptides, learning and memory, cell proliferation and differentiation, and glucose metabolism. A small number of reports have also suggested PREP participation in both male and female reproduction-associated processes. In the present work, we examined PREP distribution in male germ cells and studied the effects of its knockdown (Prep(gt/gt)) on testis and sperm in adult mice. The protein is expressed and localized in elongating spermatids and luminal spermatozoa of wild type (wt) mice, as well as Sertoli, Leydig, and peritubular cells. PREP is also expressed in the head and midpiece of epididymal spermatozoa, whereas the remaining tail region shows a weaker signal. Furthermore, testis weight, histology of seminiferous tubules, and epididymal sperm parameters were assessed in wt and Prep(gt/gt) mice: wild type testes have larger average tubule and lumen diameter; in addition, lumenal composition of seminiferous tubules is dissimilar between wt and Prep(gt/gt), as the percentage of spermiated tubules is much higher in wt. Finally, total sperm count, sperm motility, and normal morphology are also higher in wt than in Prep(gt/gt). These results show for the first time that the expression of PREP could be necessary for a correct reproductive function, and suggest that the enzyme may play a role in mouse spermatogenesis and sperm physiology.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, ACS reagent, ≥99.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, ≥99.0% (GC), dust-free pellets
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, BioXtra, ≥99.0% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, BioReagent, suitable for electrophoresis, for molecular biology, ≥98.5% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, ReagentPlus®, ≥98.5% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, ≥98.5% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, ≥98.0% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, ≥99.0% (T)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, BioUltra, for molecular biology, ≥99.0% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, tested according to NF, mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates consisting mainly of sodium dodecyl sulfate
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, ≥90% ((Assay))
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium dodecyl sulfate, 92.5-100.5% based on total alkyl sulfate content basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, AnhydroBeads, −10 mesh, 99.999% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium phosphate monobasic, BioUltra, for molecular biology, anhydrous, ≥99.5% (T)
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride-35Cl, 99 atom % 35Cl
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium phosphate monobasic, 99.99% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tris(tert-butoxy)silanol, 99.999%
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, 99.999% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium phosphate monobasic, for molecular biology, ≥98.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium phosphate monobasic, powder, suitable for cell culture, suitable for insect cell culture, suitable for plant cell culture, ≥99.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, BioUltra, for molecular biology, ≥99.5% (AT)
Sigma-Aldrich
Monoclonal Anti-β-Actin antibody produced in mouse, clone AC-15, ascites fluid
Sigma-Aldrich
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution, 0.02% in DPBS (0.5 mM), sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, tablet
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture, suitable for insect cell culture, suitable for plant cell culture, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, USP, 99.0-100.5%
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride solution, 0.9% in water, BioXtra, suitable for cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, BioXtra, ≥99.5% (AT)
Sigma-Aldrich
Potassium phosphate monobasic, ReagentPlus®
Sigma-Aldrich
Sodium chloride, for molecular biology, DNase, RNase, and protease, none detected, ≥99% (titration)