Background and Aims: Recently, a number of genes that are expressed specifically in the testis have been identified in rat and mouse. In 2002, 80 transcript induced in spermatogenesis (Tisp) genes with this specific expression were isolated in mice. In the human, however, the number of such genes isolated is much lower. The aim of this study therefore was the isolation of human genes specifically expressed in testis. Methods: We searched for human genome region with homology to the mouse Tisp gene family at the amino acid level using GenBank. The primers were made in human homologous regions, and polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed with templates using cDNA libraries of a range of human tissues. The cDNA specifically expressed in testis were isolated and detailed expression analysis was performed. Results: The 28 human TISP related genes were analyzed. Five of these genes were not expressed in testis and only three, TISP50, TISP15 and TISP43 related gene, were expressed specifically in testis. The cDNA of these three genes were isolated. Conclusion: Expression analysis demonstrated that there is some discrepancy between human and mouse for the TISP gene family. From expression patterns and amino acid sequences, it is suggested that the human TISP50, TISP15 and TISP43 related genes play some critical roles in spermatogenesis. (Reprod Med Biol 2004; 3: 237 - 243).
Keywords: TISP15; TISP43; TISP50; cloning; testis.