title: The low frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in subfertile males in a Sinhalese population of Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the prevalence of azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletions on the Y chromosome in Sri Lankan Sinhalese infertile men with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient group was 207 karyotypically normal infertile Sinhalese males.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of 13 sequence-tagged site (STS) markers in the AZF region was tested using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR). One hundred and twenty unselected men were also studied as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three (1.5%) had classic Y chromosome microdeletions in the AZFc sub-region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a much lower Y chromosome microdeletion frequency than previously thought, even among a strictly selected group of sub-fertile males in Sri Lanka.
authors.affiliation: Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Tithila Kalum
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Wettasinghe
authors.forename: Rohan W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Jayasekara
authors.forename: Vajira H W
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Dissanayake
keywords: Azoospermia factor a; Y-chromosome microdeletions; azoospermia factor b; azoospermia factor c; male factor sub-fertility