Absence of microdeletions in the Y chromosome in patients with a history of cryptorchidism and azoospermia or oligospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if cryptorchidism is associated with microdeletions of interval 6 of the Y chromosome, we evaluated this locus in men with a history of cryptorchidism with and without azoospermia or oligospermia and in a control group.


METHODS
Clinical study.


METHODS
Academic research environment.


METHODS
Men in whom surgical treatment of cryptorchidism had been performed in childhood and healthy control male subjects.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Genotyping of interval 6 of the Y chromosome.


RESULTS
Analysis of semen obtained from men treated for cryptorchidism in childhood showed azoospermia or oligospermia in 14 of 38 (37%) men. No microdeletions were identified with polymerase chain reaction amplification of 17 distinct sequence tagged sites located on the long arm of the Y chromosome and the sex determining region on Y (SRY) gene.


CONCLUSIONS
Microdeletions of interval 6 of the Y chromosome were not detected in either the formerly cryptorchid or in the healthy subjects. Although we cannot exclude the possibility of point mutations, we conclude that cryptorchidism or cryptorchidism associated with azoospermia or oligospermia is not due to microdeletions involving interval 6 of the Y chromosome.
Fagerli
J
J
Division of Urologic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Schneck
F X
FX
Lee
P A
PA
Bellinger
M F
MF
Witchel
S F
SF
D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014998:Y Chromosome