title: [Azoospermia factor and male infertility].
abstract: Azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletions of the Y chromosome, which occur in 1 - 55% of infertile men, are closely associated with severe spermatogenic failure and represent the most frequent molecular genetic causes of azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. Researches on AZF and its related genes, approaching the mechanisms of spermatogenic failure at the molecular level, are of great significance for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of male infertility. The detection of AZF microdeletions can provide scientific basis for correct diagnosis and reasonable therapy. This article outlines the structure and functional characteristics of AZF, as well as its relationship with male infertility, cryptorchidism, varicocele, Klinefelter syndrome, seminoma, and recurrent abortion.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Andrology, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210046, China. nanzhongyi000@126.com
authors.forename: Hua-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bao-Fang
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D056426:Genetic Loci; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins