Pregnancy loss can be caused by several factors involved in human reproduction. Although up to 50% of cases remain unexplained, it has been postulated that the major cause of failed pregnancy is an error of embryo implantation. Transmembrane mucin-1 (MUC-1) is a glycoprotein expressed on the endometrial cell surface which acts as a barrier to implantation. The gene that codes for this molecule is composed of a polymorphic tandem repeat of 60 nucleotides. Our objective was to determine if MUC-1 genetic polymorphism is associated with implantation failure in patients with a history of recurrent abortion. The study was conducted on 10 women aged 25 to 35 years with no history of successful pregnancy and with a diagnosis of infertility. The control group consisted of 32 patients aged 25 to 35 years who had delivered at least two full-term live children and who had no history of abortions or fetal losses. MUC-1 amplicons were obtained by PCR and observed on agarose and polyacrylamide gel after electrophoresis. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the number of MUC-1 variable number of tandem repeats between these groups (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that there is no effect of the polymorphic MUC-1 sequence on the implantation failure. However, the data do not exclude MUC-1 relevance during embryo implantation. The process is related to several associated factors such as the mechanisms of gene expression in the uterus, specific MUC-1 post-translational modifications and appropriate interactions with other molecules during embryo implantation.

Várias proteínas que constituem o espermatozóide têm sido relatadas como sendo proteínas que se ligam ao óvulo no momento da fertilização, bem como íons cálcio têm um papel importante na capacitação e reação acrossômica. Baseado nisto, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar e correlacionar proteínas do sêmen congelado bovino de diferentes raças, concentração de íons cálcio no plasma seminal e atividade da fosfolipase A2 do espermatozóide com a reação acrossômica, visando encontrar fatores que influenciem no processo de fertilização bovina. Análises do perfil eletroforético das proteínas (totais e de membrana) do espermatozóide e do plasma seminal bovino revelaram variabilidade protéica entre indivíduos na qual diferenças qualitativas e quantitativas foram identificadas. A quantificação da fosfolipase A2, bem como da concentração de cálcio no plasma seminal revelaram diversidade genética entre touros. Uma proteína de 15,7 kDa apresentou correlação significativa (0.71) com a reação acrossômica, que pode estar diretamente relacionada com a fertilização in vivo e deste modo outros experimentos podem ser realizados a fim de investigar a utilidade deste marcador protéico na verdadeira fertilidade.

Just as calcium plays an integral role in acrosome capacitation and reaction, several spermatozoon proteins have been reported as binding to the ovum at fertilization. We examined the relationship between thawed bovine semen protein profiles, seminal plasma calcium ion concentration, spermatozoon phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and acrosome reaction. Electrophoretic profile analysis of spermatozoa and bovine seminal plasma proteins (total and membrane) revealed qualitative and quantitative differences among bulls. Variations in PLA2 and seminal plasma calcium concentration indicated genetic diversity among individuals. A 15.7-kDa membrane protein was significantly correlated (r = 0.71) with acrosome reaction, which in turn has been associated with in vivo fertility.