DNA organization in patients with a history of cryptorchidism.
OBJECTIVE
Cryptorchidism is associated with infertility, even in those patients with unilateral undescended testes. The mechanism for this infertility is not understood. We demonstrated recently that in mice, a stable nuclear matrix, a structural component of the nucleus that organizes DNA, is necessary for proper embryogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that spermatozoa from cryptorchid patients had unstable nuclear matrices.


METHODS
Semen samples from 7 patients with a history of undescended testes and decreased fertility were tested for sperm nuclear matrix stability using our halo assay.


RESULTS
All 7 patients were found to have unstable nuclear matrices, as compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study suggests that one factor in the decreased fertility of cryptorchid patients may be unstable sperm nuclear matrices.
Barone
J G
JG
Division of Urology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Christiano
A P
AP
Ward
W S
WS
D000328:Adult; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015530:Nuclear Matrix / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
D004247:DNA