title: [Expression of telomerase gene hTERT in testes of infertile male and its significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression and the significance of telomerase gene hTERT in testes of infertile male.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using in situ hybridization(ISH) techniques, the expression of telomerase gene hTERT mRNA in testes of 47 infertile male and 10 normal testicular tissues were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In male testes, there was a positive correlation between the expression of hTERT and the quantity and density of germ cells(spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid). The expression of hTERT in some germinal cell of maturation arrest patients were not significantly different with those of normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the deficiency of telomerase might be a factor for germinal cell maturation arrest and there might be some other etiological factors in these patients. Our study provides experimental groundwork for the gene therapy of male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. Zhewei@public.wh.hb.cn
authors.forename: Zhe-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: Xiu-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Gong-Cheng
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D013087:Spermatids; D013090:Spermatocytes; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia; D019098:Telomerase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase