Deletions of the AZFc region in Yq11.2, which include the DAZ gene family, are responsible for most cases of male infertility and were associated with severe oligozoospermia and also with a variable testicular pathology. To uncover the functional contribution of DAZ to human spermatogenesis, a DAZ gene copy-specific deletion analysis was previously established and showed that DAZ1/DAZ2 deletion...

Approximately 15% of couples in the reproductive age group worldwide are affected by infertility, and it is estimated that about 40-50% of infertilities are of male origin. Genetic factor accounts for 10-15% of severe male infertility, including chromosomal aberrations and single gene mutations (Ferlin et al, 2006). After the Klinfelter syndrome, Y chromosomal microdeletions are the most freque...

bTREK-1 K(+) channels set the resting membrane potential of bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells and function pivotally in the physiology of cortisol secretion. Adrenocorticotropic hormone controls the function and expression of bTREK-1 channels through signaling mechanisms that may involve cAMP and downstream effectors including protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein 2 directly act...

In whole cell patch clamp recordings on enzymatically dissociated adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells, a rapidly inactivating A-type K+ current was observed in each of more than 150 cells. Activation of IA was steeply voltage dependent and could be described by a Boltzmann function raised to an integer power of 4, with a midpoint of -28.3 mV. Using the "limiting logarithmic potential sensitivi...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the presence of a Y microdeletion confers any adverse effects on in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcome. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. SETTING Academic infertility center. PATIENT(S) A total of 17 patients with Y microdeletions who attempted IVF/ICSI cycles at our center between March 1996 and March 2002 were...