Y chromosome microdeletions, in azoospermic or near-azoospermic subjects, are located in the AZFc (DAZ) subregion |
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Authors: | Liow SL; Ghadessy FJ; Ng SC; Yong EL |
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Institution: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Republic of Singapore. |
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Abstract: | Submicroscopic deletions of the Y chromosome and polymorphisms of the
androgen receptor (AR) gene in the X chromosome have been observed in men
with defective spermatogenesis. To further define the subregions/genes in
the Y chromosome causing male infertility and its relationship to
polymorphisms of the AR polyglutamine tract, we screened the genomic DNA of
202 subfertile males and 101 healthy fertile controls of predominantly
Chinese ethnic origin. Y microdeletions were examined with 16
sequence-tagged site (STS) probes, including the RBM and DAZ genes,
spanning the AZFb and AZFc subregions of Yq11, and related to the size of
trinucleotide repeat encoding the AR polyglutamine tract. Y microdeletions
were detected and confirmed in three out of 44 (6.8%) of azoospermic and
three out of 86 (3.5%) severely oligozoospermic patients. No deletions were
detected in any of the patients with sperm counts of >0.5 x 10(6)/ml,
nor in any of the 101 fertile controls. All six affected patients had
almost contiguous Y microdeletions spanning the entire AZFc region
including the DAZ gene. The AZFb region, containing the RBM1 gene, was
intact in five of the six subjects. Y deletions were not found in those
with long AR polyglutamine tracts. Our study, the first in a Chinese
population, suggest a cause and effect relationship between Y
microdeletions in the AZFc region (possibly DAZ), and azoospermia or
near-azoospermia. Y microdeletions and long AR polyglutamine tracts appear
to be independent contributors to male infertility.
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