title: Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia: a cross-sectional study in 61 Greek men.
abstract: Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia (INOA) consists a special group of men characterized by eugonadism, primary infertility, low testicular volume, azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia and high follicle stimulating hormone values. Aims of this study were to describe the clinical, hormonal, sperm and histological characteristics of men with INOA and to define if and to what extend men with the INOA phenotype carry Y chromosome long arm (Yq) microdeletions. Sixty-three men with INOA were studied through clinical examination, spermiograms, hormonal profile, polymerase chain reaction for Yq microdeletions, karyotype and testicular fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Sixty-seven men with infertility of known causes and sixty fertile men served as controls. Men with INOA had significantly lower total testosterone levels than fertile men as well as higher prevalence of loss of libido, higher luteinizing hormone levels and lower sperm volume whereas men with infertility of known causes had intermediate values. The prevalence of Yq microdeletions was 3% in men with INOA, 3% in men with infertility of known causes (all of them with abnormal karyotype) and 0% in fertile men. In conclusion, men with INOA have more severe testiculopathy than these with infertility of known causes. These men may be at increased risk of developing partial androgen deficiency of the aging male.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippocration General Hospital, Constantinoupoleos 49, GR-546 42 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Chariklia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannouli
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambropoulos
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lissens
authors.forename: Basil C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Tarlatzis
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bontis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papadimas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D007989:Libido; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone