Transcriptional levels of four Y chromosome-linked AZF genes in azoospermic men and their association with successful sperm retrieval.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the transcriptional levels of four azoospermia factor genes in the testis of azoospermic men and to investigate the association between transcriptional levels and the results of sperm retrieval.


METHODS
Thirty-eight azoospermic men with normal karyotype and without Y chromosome gene deletions were enrolled. The amounts of USP9Y (ubiquitin specific protease 9, Y chromosome), DBY (dead box on the Y), RBMY1 (RNA-binding motif on the Y, 1), and DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) transcripts were examined by quantitative competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The steady-state concentrations of mRNA encoding for each gene in each testicular sample were normalized by the amounts of a housekeeping gene (glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]). Differences in the transcript ratios (gene transcript/GAPDH transcript) among patients with different testicular histologic findings (normal spermatogenesis, hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, Sertoli cell-only syndrome) were analyzed. For each gene, the association between the transcript ratios and the results of sperm retrieval was evaluated.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found in the transcript ratios of USP9Y and DBY among the four histologic patient groups (P = 0.33 and P = 0.21, respectively). In contrast, statistically significant decreases were found in the transcript ratios of RBMY1 and DAZ in patients with spermatogenic failure (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.002, respectively). The transcript ratios of USP9Y and DBY were not associated with the results of sperm retrieval, and the transcript ratios of RBMY1 and DAZ revealed a positive association with successful sperm retrieval.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased transcriptional levels of RBMY1 and DAZ in patients with spermatogenic failure may reflect the generalized loss of germ cells. The transcriptional levels of RBMY1 and DAZ may have the potential of becoming useful parameters in the prediction of successful sperm retrieval.
Kuo
Pao-Lin
PL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan.
Lin
Ying-Hung
YH
Teng
Yen-Ni
YN
Hsu
Chao-Chin
CC
Lin
Johnny Shinn-Nan
JS
Lin
Yung-Ming
YM
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
D015415:Biomarkers; C095668:DAZ1 protein, human; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C501499:RBMY1A1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; C481724:USP9Y protein, human; D010450:Endopeptidases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; C492034:DDX3Y protein, human; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases