title: [Expression of CR16 in the testis of patients with idiopathic azoospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of corticosteroids and regional expression 16 (CR16) in the testis of patients with idiopathic azoospermia and the role of CR16 in spermatogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of the CR16 protein and mRNA in the testes of 48 patients with idiopathic azoospermia and 10 healthy men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry showed that the CR16 protein expressed in the Sertoli cells and spermatids-binding region in the epithelium of seminiferous tubules. The level of the CR16 protein was markedly lower in the idiopathic azoospermia patients than in the healthy men, and RT-PCR also showed a significantly decreased level of CR16 mRNA in the testis of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expressions of the CR16 protein and mRNA decrease markedly in the testis of patients with idiopathic azoospermia, indicating a correlation with the pathogenesis of azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. youth1111youth@sohu.com
authors.forename: Zi-Na
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Wen-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Wen-Pei
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins