A comparative study of Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile males from two Chinese populations.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence and type of Y-microdeletions in Hong Kong and Shanghai men with severe male-factor infertility.


METHODS
Seven Y-linked sequence tagged site (STS) primers and seven gene-specific primers were screened in 293 infertile males (139 from Hong Kong and 154 from Shanghai) and 161 fertile men (61 from Hong Kong and 100 from Shanghai). Serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels were also measured in these men.


RESULTS
The incidence of Yq microdeletions in nonobstructive azoospermic men from Hong Kong (8.5%) and Shanghai (6%) was similar. Yq microdeletions were observed in severe oligospermic patients (8.5%) from Hong Kong but not from Shanghai. Among the 9 Hong Kong men with Y-microdeletions, 8 had AZFc deletion and one had AZFb deletion. In contrast, 6 of 9 men from Shanghai with Y-microdeletions had AZFb deletion. The incidence of AZFb deletion among Y-microdeleted men was statistically different between the two populations. Two of the men with AZFb deletion also had AZFa and AZFc deletions.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional variations in the type of Y-microdeletion existed between Hong Kong and Shanghai infertile males.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. jymtse@hkucc.hku.hk
J Y M
JY
Tse
W S B
WS
Yeung
E H Y
EH
Ng
L N
LN
Cheng
H B
HB
Zhu
X M
XM
Teng
Y K
YK
Liu
P C
PC
Ho
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016324:Sequence Tagged Sites; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004247:DNA