Prevalence of Y Chromosome Microdeletions in Idiopathic Azoospermia Cases in Central Indian Men.
BACKGROUND
Genetic factor is important determinant of human male fertility, it is involved in 10-15% infertile males. Chromosome abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions are the main genetic causative factors for infertility. The frequency of male infertility & microdeletions in Y chromosome are also related to ethnic, geographical variations. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities and microdeletions of Y chromosome in infertile azoospermia cases in central India to assess the geographical or population based variations.


METHODS
We have studied 160 non-obstructive azoospermia cases to find out frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions of AZF locus. G-banding method was used for exclusion of chromosomal abnormalities. One hundred and forty eight azoospermic infertile men were screened using 12 sequence-tagged-sites (STS) primers of AZFa, AZFb, AZFc region and SRY gene (Yp) region by polymerase chain reactions.


RESULTS
Out of 160 azoospermic infertile males, 12 (7.5%) confirmed chromosomal abnormalities and Klinefelter's syndrome was predominantly cause of azoospermia. Of the 148 infertile males, 19 (12.8%) were shown microdeletions in different AZF regions. Deletions in AZFa region were 2.02% and 3.37% was in AZFb whereas high frequencies of deletions (6.08%) in AZFc were recorded in azoospermic males. In two azoospermic males were shown microdeletions in AZFb+c loci.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletions in azoospermic men was 12.8% in this geographical region. Klinefelter's syndrome is important cause in male infertility. So, the screening of Y microdeletions is essential.
Senior Research Fellow, Human Genetic Division, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences , Sevagram, Wardha, (Ms), India .
Prafulla
P
Ambulkar
Professor and Head, Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Physiology, MGIMS , Sevagram, Wardha (MS), India .
Ajay
A
Chuadhary
Professor, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences , Sevagram Wardha, (MS), India .
Jwalant
J
Waghmare
Professor, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram , Wardha, (MS), India .
Aaditya
A
Tarnekar
Professor, Human Genetic Division, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences , Sevagram, Wardha, (Ms), India .
Asoke
A
Pal
AZF; Infertility; Y-STS markers