Leptin and leptin receptor in XXXX seminal plasma and in @entity1 spermatozoa.

@entity535 @entity1 @entity1243 @entity13156
@entity1243 , a 167 @entity535 peptide, is known to influence the gonads via direct and indirect effects. Recent studies provide contradictory proposition about the peripheral impact of @entity1243 in the male gonads. Thus, we examined @entity1243 and its receptors in @entity1 seminal plasma and in @entity1 ejaculated spermatozoa by Western blot technique and fluorescence microscopy. In seminal plasma we found a free @entity1243 band (16 kDa) by an anti- @entity1243 polyclonal antibody. Incubation of seminal plasma with recombinant @entity1243 caused a statistically significant increase in the amount of free @entity1243 (p < 0.01) and supports this finding. Furthermore, a soluble @entity13156 (145 kDa) was found in @entity1 seminal plasma in the same specimen. We also detected a 145-kDa @entity13156 isoform in ejaculated spermatozoa as a possible target of @entity1243 action in the male genital tract, which was localized at the tail of spermatozoa by immunofluorescence microscopy only. This receptor was significantly associated with the intactness of sperm plasma membranes. Spermatozoa with deteriorated membranes contained 49.2 +/- 6.9% @entity13156 signal intensity compared with spermatozoa having intact membranes (p < 0.01). This finding is difficult to interpret and may be caused by a leakage of @entity13156 due to loss of membrane integrity. In conclusion, these data provide further hints for a peripheral role of @entity1243 in the male genital tract, possibly, by an interaction between @entity1243 and spermatozoa via sperm @entity1243 receptors.
