title: High frequency of gr/gr chromosome Y deletions in consecutive oligospermic ICSI candidates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Y chromosome gr/gr microdeletion eliminates two copies of the DAZ gene and several additional transcriptional units and has been associated as a risk factor for infertility. Our objective was to study the presence of the gr/gr deletion in ICSI candidates in our population and to determine whether the laboratory, clinical and ICSI outcome were different in the gr/gr deleted patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and eighty-three ICSI candidates were studied. Semen analysis, serum FSH, LH, testosterone, inhibin B, karyotype and detection of sequence tagged sites in the Y chromosome were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  gr/gr deletions were detected in 11 (5.07%) of 217 oligospermic and in one (1.52%) of 66 azoospermic consecutive ICSI candidates, but in none of 232 controls (P=0.002). The fertility rate was not different in the four patients of the gr/gr deleted group treated by ICSI (64.38%; 47/73) as compared to average results at our center (65.49%; 2393/3654).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  gr/gr deletions are a risk factor for spermatogenic failure at our population, but the prognosis of the four patients of the gr/gr deleted group treated by ICSI is not different from that of other ICSI patients.
authors.affiliation: Grup de Genètica Humana, Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques I, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Llanos
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ballescà
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gázquez
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Margarit
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliva
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA