• PMID: 11113757
• Gene Name: DAZ1
• Condition: Infertility
• Association: The most commonly deleted region in the Taiwanese population is AZFc. The genes implicated in Taiwanese spermatogenesis defects are the DAZ and RBM gene families
• Mutation: Y chromosome microdeletions
• Population size: 94
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: RBM, AZFb
• Other associated phenotypes: Non-obstructive azoospermia

Y-chromosome microdeletion and its effect on reproductive decisions in taiwanese patients presenting with nonobstructive azoospermia

Lin YM, Chen CW, Sun HS, Hsu CC, Chen JM, Lin SJ, Lin JS, Kuo PL.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the position, extent, and frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in Taiwanese patients presenting with nonobstructive azoospermia, and to investigate the effect of microdeletions on reproductive decisions. METHODS: We studied 176 consecutive men with azoospermia in our urology clinic. Polymerase chain reaction tests were performed in 94 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, and a series of 27 sequence-tagged sites (STSs) mapped within intervals 5 and 6 of Yq11 was selected for analysis. Clinical genetics counseling was provided to couples with microdeletions, and these couples made their own choices about further treatment modalities. RESULTS: Among 94 patients screened for microdeletion, 11 (11.7%) showed microdeletions of one or more STSs. One had a deletion confined to the azoospermia factor b (AZFb) region (encompassing the RBM gene). Two were found to have deletions of both the AZFb and AZFc regions. Eight patients had deletions in the AZFc region (encompassing the DAZ gene). Five had deletions distal to the DAZ gene family. One had multiple, noncontiguous deletions. In 8 patients with testicular histology available, a lack of genotype/phenotype correlation was noted. Of the 11 couples with deletions, 3 thought microdeletion was a serious defect and opted for an artificial insemination of donor or adoption, 5 chose intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and the other 3 decided to undergo treatment with Chinese medicinal herbs. CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly deleted region in the Taiwanese population is AZFc. The genes implicated in Taiwanese spermatogenesis defects are the DAZ and RBM gene families. Twenty-seven percent of couples with microdeletions deferred assisted reproductive technologies because of concern about their underlying genetic defects. FAU - Lin, Y M AU - Lin YM AD - Department of Urology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan. FAU - Chen, C W AU - Chen CW FAU - Sun, H S AU - Sun HS FAU - Hsu, C C AU - Hsu CC FAU - Chen, J M AU - Chen JM FAU - Lin, S J AU - Lin SJ FAU - Lin, J S AU - Lin JS