Meiosis I arrest and azoospermia in an infertile male explained by failure of formation of a component of the synaptonemal complex.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the early stages of meiosis in a male with unexplained azoospermia.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland.


METHODS
A 30-year-old male with nonobstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Immunostaining for components of the synaptonemal complex and recombination-associated proteins, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for specific chromosomes.


METHODS
Progression to and through pachytene of meiosis I in controls and in the patient.


RESULTS
We observed complete meiosis I arrest in the patient, associated with failure of formation of the mature, tripartite synaptonemal complex.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormalities in synaptonemal complex formation are responsible for a proportion of cases of unexplained male infertility.
Judis
LuAnn
L
Department of Genetics and The Center for Human Genetics, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Chan
Ernest R
ER
Schwartz
Stuart
S
Seftel
Allen
A
Hassold
Terry
T
D000328:Adult; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013573:Synaptonemal Complex / Q000378:metabolism*
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C490060:SYCP3 protein, human; C413483:CTDSP1 protein, human; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases