Objective: Microdeletions of azoospermia factor (AZF) regions in Y chromosome were a genetic risk factor of spermatogenic failure and male infertility. Most laboratories carried out the AZF microdeletion testing by using peripheral intravenous blood, and AZF microdeletion in spermatozoa of infertile patients was sometimes not identical to that of peripheral intravenous blood due to the existenc...

BACKGROUND Genetic factors cause about 15% of male infertility. Azoospermia factors (AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc) present on Yq are most important for spermatogenesis. We have made an attempt to evaluate the frequencies of microdeletions of AZFa, AZFb, AZFc in idiopathic cases of azoospermia and oligozoospermia from central Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have analyzed a total of 156 sub...

Background: To investigate the frequencies of AZF microdeletions and chromosomal abnormalities in infertile men from Northeastern China. Moreover, to compare the prevalence of these abnormalities with other countries and regions in the world. Materials and Methods: 305 infertile men were enrolled. A complete semen analysis and reproductive hormones were measured according to standard methods. M...

Background and Aims: Azoospermia factor (AZF) region of the Y-chromosome has several genes which are responsible for normal spermatogenesis. Microdeletions of these genes are associated with azoospermia and oligospermia. These microdeletions are too small to be detected by karyotyping. They can be easily identified using polymerase chain reaction. The aim of this study is to determine the frequ...

The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of somatic chromosomal anomalies and Y chromosomal microdeletions (azoospermia factor genes, AZF) in infertile males who seek assisted reproduction. These studies are very important because the assisted reproduction techniques (mainly intracytoplasmic sperm injection) bypass the natural selection process and some classical chromo...

Infertility is defined as a failure to conceive in a couple trying to reproduce for a period of two years without conception. Approximately 15 percent of couples are infertile, and among these couples, male factor infertility accounts for approximately 50 percent of causes. Male infertility is a multifactorial syndrome encompassing a wide variety of disorders. In more than half of infertile men...

B5 fixation achieves superior morphologic detail. However, environmental concerns have led to labor-intensive and costly requirements for disposal of mercury-containing fixatives. We performed a blinded prospective study to find a safe, mercury-free alternative to B5. Morphology was evaluated with 6 fixatives, including B5, in a blinded fashion. Acetic acid-zinc-formalin (AZF) was selected for ...

AZF deletions are genomic deletions in the euchromatic part of the long arm of the human Y chromosome (Yq11) associated with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. Consequently, it can be assumed that these deletions remove Y chromosomal genes required for spermatogenesis. However, these 'classical' or 'complete' AZF deletions, AZFa, AZFb and AZFc, represent only a subset of rearrangements in Y...