Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ and PPARβ/δ) gene expression profile on ram spermatozoa and their relation to the sperm motility

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a member of nuclear receptors superfamily, which mainly regulate the expression of target genes involved in lipid and energy metabolism. These receptors are divided to three isotypes: PPARα, PPARγ and PPARβ/δ. Each isotype has a distinct tissue distribution relating to the distinct functions. In this study, the mRNA abundance for PPARα, PPARγ and PPARβ/δ was evaluated and compared with high and low motile ram spermatozoa. Semen samples from 6 adult rams were fractionated on a two layer discontinuous Percoll gradient to high and low motile sperm and quantitative parameters of sperm motility were determined by CASA. Total RNA was extracted and the mRNA abundance for each gene was measured by relative quantification technique with Real time PCR. The levels of three isotypes of PPAR transcripts were significantly higher in high motile semen samples using quantitative RT-PCR. Some of sperm motility indices were also significantly correlated with PPARα and PPARγ relative expression. This study revealed the novel association of PPAR gene isotypes with sperm motility. Data from our study suggested PPARs are one of the possible factors that can be studied in male infertility.