Deletions within the azoospermia factor subregions of the Y chromosome in Hong Kong Chinese men with severe male-factor infertility: controlled clinical study

JYM Tse, WSB Yeung, EYL Lau, EHY Ng, WWK So, PC Ho
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To determine the patterns and the prevalence of microdeletions in the azoospermia factor subregions of the Y chromosome in Hong Kong Chinese men with severe male-factor infertility.

DESIGN. Controlled clinical study.

SETTING. Reproductive centre of a university teaching hospital, Hong Kong.

PARTICIPANTS. Fifty-eight men with severe male-factor infertility who participated in the in vitro fertilisation programme from May 1998 through March 1999, and 46 male volunteers with proven fertility.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes using six loci spanning the �AZFa, �AZFb, and �AZFc subregions of the Y chromosome.

RESULTS. No microdeletions were detected in the fertile controls or in patients with obstructive azoospermia. Deletions within the �AZFc subregion were found in 9% (4/44) of men with non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligospermia. Neither �AZFa nor �AZFb deletions were detected in any participants.

CONCLUSION. Deletions within the azoospermia factor subregions of the Y chromosome are associated with severe male-factor infertility in Hong Kong Chinese men.

Hong Kong Med J 2000;6:143-6

Key words: Chromosome deletion; Infertility, male; Polymerase chain reaction; Y chromosome/genetics