title: Expression profiles of the DAZ gene family in human testis with and without spermatogenic failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the expression profiles of the DAZ gene family in men with and without spermatogenic failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based reproductive clinics and genetics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four infertile men presenting with azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mRNA transcript concentrations of the DAZ family genes (BOULE, DAZL, DAZ) and the housekeeping GAPDH gene in the testes of azoospermic men were examined by quantitative competitive-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QC-RT-PCR). The steady-state concentrations of mRNA encoding for each gene in each testicular sample were normalized by the amounts of GAPDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transcript ratios (gene/GAPDH) of BOULE, DAZL, and DAZ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transcript ratios for BOULE, DAZL, and DAZ were significantly decreased in tissues with spermatogenic failure (hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest, and Sertoli cell-only). However, the ratios of BOULE/DAZL and DAZ/DAZL did not reveal any significant difference in all tissues. Three patients with DAZ deletion possess lower transcripts of BOULE and DAZL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All members of the DAZ gene family play important roles in human spermatogenesis. Decreased concentrations of DAZ family members in men with spermatogenic failure may be due to the secondary effect of germ cell loss, and transcriptional control of BOULE, DAZL, and DAZ are not altered in the various degrees of spermatogenic failure. Although the sample size is limited, no compensatory increase of DAZL or BOULE transcription was found in men with DAZ deletion.
authors.affiliation: National Cheng Kung University, College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan. paolink@mail.ncku.edu.tw
authors.forename: Pao-Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Shan-Tair
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yung-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yen-Ni
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Chao-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D005810:Multigene Family; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C481351:BOLL protein, human; C095668:DAZ1 protein, human; C101358:DAZL protein, human; D000075364:Deleted in Azoospermia 1 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins