The prevalence of azoospermia factor microdeletion on the Y chromosome of Chinese infertile men detected by multi-analyte suspension array technology

Aim： To develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor （AZF） region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. Methods： In total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia （nonobstructed）, 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array （MASA） technology. Results： Of the 312 patients, 36 （11.5%） were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The rnicrodeletion frequency was 14% （25/178） in the azoospermia group and 8.2% （11/134） in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls. Conclusion： There is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.     

Frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and chromosomal abnormalities in infertile Thai men with oligozoospermia and azoospermia

Aim： To investigate the possible causes of oligozoospermia and azoospermia in infertile Thai men, and to find the frequencies of Y chromosome microdeletions and cytogenetic abnormalities in this group. Methods： From June 2003 to November 2005, 50 azoospermic and 80 oligozoospermic men were enrolled in the study. A detailed history was taken for each man, followed by general and genital examinations. Y chromosome microdeletions were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） using 11 gene-specific primers that covered all three regions of the azoospermic factor （AZFa, AZFb and AZFc）. Fifty men with normal semen analysis were also studied. Karyotyping was done with the standard G- and Q-banding. Serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, prolactin （PRL） and testosterone were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassays （ECLIA）. Results： Azoospermia and oligozoospermia could be explained by previous orchitis in 22.3%, former bilateral cryptorchidism in 19.2%, abnormal karyotypes in 4.6% and Y chromosome microdeletions in 3.8% of the subjects. The most frequent deletions were in the AZFc region （50%）, followed by AZFb （33%） and AZFbc （17%）. No significant difference was detected in hormonal profiles of infertile men, with or without microdeletions. Conclusion： The frequencies of Y chromosome microdeletions and cytogenetic abnormalities in oligozoospermic and azoospermic Thai men are comparable with similarly infertile men from other Asian and Western countries.     

Molecular genetic analysis of microdeletion on AZF/DAZ gene in patients with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia in Fujian

Objective: To identify microdeletions in azoospermia factor(AZF) gene loci in patients with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia in Fujian. Methods: Molecular genetic detection method was used to detect microdeletion at the AZFa, AZFb, AZFc /DAZ,SRY region of Y chromosome in 47 azoospermia and 4 severe oligozoospermia patients. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. The sequence tagged site (STS) primers tested in each cases were sY84(AZFa), sY 143(AZFb) sY254(AZFc).SRY region of Y chromosome for control. The PCR products were analyzed on a 2.0% agarose gel. Results: Microdeletions of the Y-chromosomal AZF loci were revealed in 18(35.3%,18/51) of 51 patients with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. AZFa deletion was found in four (7.8%) patients, AZF b in five (9.8%) patients, AZF c in four (7.8%) patients. AZF a+b in one(1.9%)patient, AZF b+c in two (3.9%) patients, AZF a+b+c in two (3.9%)patients respectively. No deletion of SRY region was found. No deletion of AZF a, AZF b, AZF c/DAZ,SRY regions was found in five fertile male who had at least one or more children. Conclusions: Microdeletions on AZF/DAZ gene loci were major genetics defects leading to azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia in male idiopathic infertility in Fujian. It is necessary to have genetic counseling and carry out microdeletion detection on AZF/DAZ gene loci before performing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).     

Y染色体基因微缺失在严重少精子症和无精子症中的应用

目的 利用Y染色体基因微缺失的检测来明确少精子症、无精子症患者病因.方法 采用多重聚合酶链反应技术,针对31例严重少精子症和9例无精子症患者与对照组41名已正常生育的男性,进行AZFa、AZFb、AZFc、3个区域共12个序列标签位点(sequence tag site,STS)的微缺失分析.结果 严重少精子症31例中发现Y染色体微缺失6例,无精子症9例中发现Y染色体微缺失3例,而正常对照组41例均未发现Y染色体微缺失.此研究中发现缺失形式有2种,分别是AZFa+AZFb+AZFc区的全缺失和AZFc区的单独缺失.结论 Y染色体微缺失与精子发生障碍导致的不育有一定的联系.     

AZF microdeletions and partial deletions of AZFc region on the Y chromosome in Moroccan men

Aim： To evaluate for the first time the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and the occurrence of the partial deletions of AZFc region in Moroccan men, and to discuss the clinical significance of AZF deletions. Methods： We screened Y chromosome microdeletions and partial deletions of the AZFc region of a consecutive group of infertile men （n = 149） and controls （100 fertile men, 76 normospermic men）. AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and partial deletions of the AZFc region were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） according to established protocols. Results： Among the 127 infertile men screened for microdeletion, four subjects were found to have microdeletions： two AZFc deletions and two AZFb＋AZFc deletions. All the deletions were found only in azoospermic subjects （4/48, 8.33%）. The overall AZFc deletion frequency was low （4/127, 3.15%）. AZF microdeletions were not observed in either oligoasthenoteratozoospermia （OATS） or the control. Partial deletions of AZFc （gr/gr） were observed in a total of 7 of the 149 infertile men （4.70%） and 7 partial AZFc deletions （gr/gr） were found in the control group （7/176, 3.98%）. In addition, two b2/b3 deletions were identified in two azoospermic subjects （2/149, 1.34%） but not in the control group. Conclusion： Our results suggest that the frequency of Y chromosome AZF microdeletions is elevated in individuals with severe spermatogenic failure and that gr/gr deletions are not associated with spermatogenic failure.     

陕西地区不明原因无精子症和少精子症患者Y染色体长臂微缺失分析

目的: 评估陕西地区不明原因无精子症和少精子症不育男性患者Y染色体长臂微缺失的频率,探讨精子密度与Y染色体微缺失发生率的相关性。　方法: 以Y染色体特异性无精子症因子区STS AZFa、AZFb、AZFc和SRY4个基因 5个片段设计引物,采用PCR方法对 64例无精子症和少精子症患者以及 20例正常生育男性进行微缺失检测,并比较不同精子密度患者Y染色体微缺失的发生率。　结果: 20例精子密度正常的生育男性未检出Y染色体微缺失,而 64例特发性无精子症 /少精子症患者AZFc区的缺失率为17. 2% (11 /64),AZFc和AZFb联合缺失 1例,未发现AZFa区缺失,SRY基因均为阳性。其中无精子症组缺失率为21. 43% ( 3 /14 );精子密度 <1×106 /ml组,缺失率为 20. 0% (2 /10);精子密度 (1 ~5)×106 /ml组缺失率为17. 9% (5 /28);精子密度 (5 ~10 )×106 /ml组缺失率为8. 3% (1 /12)。各组缺失率经卡方检验差异有显著性 (χ2 =70. 144,P<0. 005 )。　结论: 无精子症和少精子症不育患者Y染色体AZFc缺失率明显较高,PCR扩增AZF基因是诊断Y染色体微缺失的简单方法。     

精索静脉曲张男性不育患者Y染色体微缺失检测

目的:探讨精索静脉曲张(varicocele,VC)不育患者Y染色体微缺失特点及其与临床表型的关系,为评价VC不育患者是否行手术治疗或ICSI提供依据。方法:VC不育患者174例,分为3组,A组:无精子症47例;B组:严重少精子症57例;C组:轻度少精子症70例;设立正常生育的健康志愿者男性28例作为对照组(D组)。抽取外周血提取DNA,选取Y染色体上AZFa、AZFb、AZFc区共6个序列标签位点,应用多重PCR进行扩增;已生育女性26例作为阴性对照,分别运用琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离,对照阅读扩增产物,判定有无缺失存在以及缺失类型。结果:174例男性不育患者中有22例检测到Y染色体微缺失,缺失率12.64%;A组11例存在微缺失,B组11例存在微缺失,C组未检测到微缺失。A组与C组、B组与C组比较,差异均有显著性。A组缺失病例中有6例为AZFc区缺失,1例为AZFa缺失,2例为AZFb区缺失,2例为AZFb、AZFc区共同缺失;B组缺失病例中有8例为AZFc缺失,2例为AZFb缺失,1例为AZFb、AZFc区共同缺失。结论:①精液异常VC不育与Y染色体微缺失有关;②VC不育患者特别是无精子症和严重少精子症患者,应该进行Y染色体微缺失的检测。     

Y-chromosomal.microdeletions and partial deletions of the Azoospermia Factor c （AZFc） region in normozoospermic, severe oligozoospermic and azoospermic men in Sri Lanka

Aim:To assess for the first time the occurrence of Y chromosomal microdeletions and partial deletions of theAzoospermia Factor c(AZFc)region in Sri Lankan men and to correlate them with clinical parameters.Methods:Ina retrospective study,we analyzed 96 infertile men(78 with non-obstructive azoospermia)and 87 controls withnormal spermatogenesis.AZFa,AZFb,AZFc and partial deletions within the AZFc region were analyzed by multiplexpolymerase chain reaction(PCR)according to established protocols,Results:No AZFa,AZFb or AZFc deletionswere found in the control group.Seven patients in the group of infertile men were found to have deletions as following:one AZFa,two AZFc,two AZFbc and two AZFabc.The relative distribution of these patterns was significantlydifferent compared with that found in the German population.Extension analysis confirmed that the deletions oc-curred according to the current pathogenic model.gr/gr deletions were found to be equally present both in the patients(n=4)and in the control group(n=4).One b2/b3 deletion was found in the patient group.Conclusion:Theseresults suggest that the frequency and pattern of microdeletions of the Y chromosome in Sri Lankan men are similarto those found in other populations and confirm that gr/gr deletions are not sufficient to cause spermatogenetic failure.(Asian J Androl 2006 Jan;8:39-44)     

Y染色体AZFa区部分缺失1例并文献复习

<正>全球约有15%的育龄夫妇不孕不育,其中男性因素约占50%,由遗传缺陷导致的男性不育约为30%。研究表明,Y染色体的Yq11区存在与精子发生密切相关的基因家族,被命名为无精子因子(azoospermia factor,AZF),该区域可分为3个亚区,即AZFa、AZFb、AZFc。Y染色体微缺失是引起男性不育症的重要遗传因素之一,本实验室在临床中发现1例Y染色体AZFa区sY86位点单独缺失的罕见病例,现对其进行报告如下。1资料与方     

男性不育患者Y染色体微缺失液态芯片筛查方法的建立及应用

目的建立一套全新的基因诊断方法,检测Y染色体无精子因子(azoospermia factor,AZF)区域微缺失,并对Y染色体微缺失与男性不育相关性进行初步探讨。方法按照欧洲男科协会和欧洲分子遗传实验质控网检测指南推荐标准,采用多重PCR-液态芯片技术对648例精子发生障碍的患者和100例合格捐精者进行Y染色体微缺失筛查。结果648例精子发生障碍的患者中,发现62例患者存在Y染色体AZF区域微缺失,对应于5种缺失模式AZFa,AZFb,AZFc,AZFb c,AZFa b c。按区域统计,AZFc区域缺失的频率最高,其次是AZFb,AZFa的检出率最低。无精子症患者中微缺失的发生率为12．31％,严重少精子患者中微缺失发生率为5．43％。100例对照组没有发现任何缺失,两组比较,差异显著(P<0．001)。结论男性不育与Y染色体微缺失密切相关,本研究建立的多重PCR方法-液态芯片技术平台,用于男性不育患者的YqAZF区域筛查,结果可靠、快捷、重复性好、通量高。     

Detection of chromosomal abnormality and Y chromosome microdeletion in patients with azoospermia and oligozoospermia

Objective:To investigate the chromosomal abnormality and Y chromosome microdeletion in patients with azoospermia and oligozoospermia.Methods:Cytogenetic karyotype analysis and multiplex PCR were used to detect chromosomal abnormality and Y chromosome microdeletion in 99 azoospermic and 57 oligospermic patients(total 156).45 fertile men were includ-ed as controls.Results:31 patients were found with chromosomal abnormalities in 156 cases(31/156,19.9 %),20 cases showed 47,XXY,2 cases showed 46,XY/47,XXY,7 cases had Y chromosome structural abnormalities and 2 had autosomal chromosome abnormalities.There were significant differences between the frequency of AZF microde-letion in 125 cases with normal karyotype and 45 controls(P<0.01).The frequency of AZF microdeletion in 68 azoospermic and 57 oligospermic patients were 14.7%(10/68)and 15.8%(9/57)respectively,the difference was not significant(P>0.05).AZFa,AZFb,AZFa+b,AZFb+c,AZFa+b+d and AZFb+c+d mierodeletions were found in azoospermic patients.AZFb,AZFc,AZFd,AZFb+c+d and AZFc+d microdeletions were found in oligo-spermic patients.Conxlusion:The frequency of chromosomal abnormality was 19.9% and the frequency of Y chromosome mi-crodeletion was 15.2% in patient with azoospermia and oligozoospermia.We should pay close attention to this prob-lem.     

多重聚合酶链反应检测Y染色体无精子因子微缺失

目的:研究原发性无精、严重少精症与Y染色体无精子因子(AZF)微缺失之间的关系.方法:采用多重聚合酶链反应技术对103例原发无精子症、72例原发严重少精症患者及60例正常生育男性进行AZFa、AZFb、AZFc 3个区域微缺失分析.结果:60例正常生育男性未发现Y染色体AZF区域微缺失,175例生精障碍患者中发现AZF微缺失19例,总缺失率为10.9%.其中11例无精症患者和4例少精症患者的缺失发生在AZFc区域,缺失率为8.6%;1例无精症患者和2例少精症患者发生AZFb、AZFc双重缺失,缺失率为1.7%;1例无精症患者发生AZFa、b、c 3个区域同时微缺失,缺失率0.6%.生精障碍组与正常生育男性组比较Y染色体AZF区域微缺失率差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).结论:Y染色体AZF区域微缺失是引起男性无精、少精子症的重要原因之一.采用多重聚合酶链反应技术对原发无精、少精子症患者在单精子注射(ICSI)之前进行微缺失筛查是必要的.     

Y chromosome microdeletions and varicocele as aetiological factors of male infertility: A cross‐sectional study

The pathogenic mechanisms by which varicocele disrupt spermatogenesis are not clearly understood. Over 30% of male infertility cases resulting from spermatogenic problems are associated with genetic abnormalities, and Y chromosome microdeletions are the second most frequent genetic cause. Here, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletion in infertile men with varicocele. A cross‐sectional study comprising 51 infertile men with varicocele presenting spermatogenesis failures was performed. Y chromosome microdeletion research was made using polymerase chain reaction. Of the 51 men with infertility and varicocele, 35.3% (18/51) had nonobstructive azoospermia and 64.7% had severe oligozoospermia. Y chromosome microdeletion was found in two cases (3.9%): one patient had nonobstructive azoospermia and complete microdeletion of the AZFb and AZFc regions, and another patient had severe oligozoospermia and complete microdeletion of the AZFc region. Although in recent years, a genetic aetiology related to Y chromosome microdeletions has become a major cause of infertility in males with spermatogenesis failures, in this study, the varicocele was the clinical cause of seminal abnormalities that could lead to infertility, suggesting that both varicocele and Y chromosome microdeletion aetiologies can present, alone or combined, as factors of male infertility.     

无精子症和严重少精子症患者AZF/DAZ基因微缺失的分子生物学检测

目的　用分子生物学方法检测无精子症和严重少精子症患者无精子基因 (AZF)AZF/DAZ基因微缺失。　方法　应用聚合酶链反应 (PCR)技术对无精子症 4 7例、严重少精子症 4例进行Y染色体AZFa、AZFb、AZFc/DAZ、SRY的微缺失检测。　结果　 5 1例患者缺失率为 35 .3% (18/ 5 1) ,其中AZFa、AZFb、AZFc的微缺失分别为 4例 (7.8% )、5例 (9.8% )和 4例 (7.8% )。无精子症患者 1例 (1.9% )为AZFa、AZFb的双重缺失 ,2例 (3.9% )为AZFb、AZFc的双重缺失 ;2例 (3.9% )为AZFa、AZFb和AZFc的三重缺失 ;5 1例SRY基因PCR扩增均为阳性。 5例已有生育的正常男性均无AZFa、AZFb、AZFc、SRY的微缺失。　结论　AZF/DAZ(包括AZFa、AZFb、AZFc/DAZ)基因的微缺失是引起无精子和严重少精子导致男性不育的重要原因之一。AZF/DAZ基因微缺失的分子生物学检测对不明原因的不育男性行胞浆内单精子注射 (ICSI)时有指导意义。     

Case report. Patient with varicocele & oligozoospermia with Y chromosome microdeletion: AZFb+c

The 13-18% of the couples in reproductive age gets to present some kind of fertility problem, the male factor participates in near 50% of the cases. The microdeletions in the Yq chromosome occupy single the 7,6%; severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia are related with these alterations. The structure of region AZF of Yq is divided in AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and AZFd. The microdeletions can be simple or combined, the microdeletion AZFc (59-65%) is the commonest. In cases with severe oligozoospermia (or azoospermia), study of microdeletions in Y chromosome is suggested. ICSI with selection of sex, would be the treatment adapted in these cases, is in phase of study.     

原发性无精子症与严重少精子症患者AZF微缺失筛查

目的:观察Y染色体AZF微缺失与原发性无精子症和严重少精子症之间的关系。方法:所有筛选入实验组的研究对象均进行外周血生殖内分泌激素卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、睾酮(T)的检测及染色体核型分析,排除激素水平异常者及染色体结构与数目异常者。将符合纳入标准的实验对象67例分为原发性无精子症组(A组)49例与原发性严重少精子症组(B组)18例,正常生育男性对照(C组)40例。确定了8个实验用序列标签位点(STS),分别是:sY84、sY86、sY127、sY134、sY152、sY153、sY254、sY255,并以X/Y连锁锌指蛋白基因(ZFX/Y)为内对照进行多重PCR筛查AZF微缺失。结果:67例实验组样本中,共检测出AZF微缺失8例,缺失率为11.94%,其中AZFc区缺失的有4例,AZFa+AZFc区缺失的有2例,AZFb+AZFc区缺失的有1例,AZFb区缺失的有1例。对照组未检出AZF基因微缺失。经χ2检验,实验组与对照组AZF区域STS总缺失率有显著性差异,实验组高于对照组。结论:Y染色体长臂AZF微缺失与原发性无精子症和严重少精子症相关,多重PCR是一种快速、有效的筛查方法。