Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on July 22, 2005
Molecular Human Reproduction 2005 11(7):507-512; doi:10.1093/molehr/gah191
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Y chromosome gr/gr subdeletion is associated with male infertility
1Prince Henrys Institute of Medical Research, 2Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University, 3Monash IVF, 4Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 5ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, 6University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Womens Hospital, Carlton and 7Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
8 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Prince Henrys Institute of Medical Research, P.O.Box 5152, Clayton, 3168, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: rob.mclachlan{at}phimr.monash.edu.au
Men with Y chromosome (Yq) AZFc deletions lack all copies of the DAZ gene and have severe spermatogenic failure. A recently described gr/gr subdeletion of AZFc removes two of four copies of DAZ. To better understand the relative frequencies of AZFc and gr/gr deletions and their associated phenotypes, we analysed two large groups of infertile men. A total of 788 men from the Monash Male Infertility (MMI) database with a range of fertility disorders showed similar overall prevalences of AZFc (2.5%) and gr/gr deletions (3.4%). There was no association of gr/gr deletions with sperm density. In 234 control men of known or presumed fertility, only one gr/gr deletion was found. In a further 599 consecutive men presenting for assisted reproductive technologies, we detected 13 (2.2%) AZFc deletions and 28 (4.7%) gr/gr deletions. All AZFc deletions were seen with sperm densities <5 million/ml but again the gr/gr deletion occurred with similar frequency across all sperm density categories. These data show that gr/gr deletions are significantly associated with infertility in the Australian population (P = 0.0015) but not exclusively with reduced sperm density suggesting a complex interaction with other factors important for male fertility. Vertical transmission of gr/gr deletions from father to son by ICSI was demonstrated in four cases. Analysis of 130 ICSI-conceived sons revealed no de novo gr/gr deletions indicating that ICSI is not a risk factor. The data suggest that testing for gr/gr deletions should be considered in the routine genetic assessment of men with idiopathic infertility.
Key words: deletion/male infertility/spermatogenic failure/Y chromosome
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
K. I. Aston and D. T. Carrell Genome-Wide Study of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated With Azoospermia and Severe Oligozoospermia J Androl, November 1, 2009; 30(6): 711 - 725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Visser, G.H. Westerveld, C.M. Korver, S.K.M. van Daalen, S.E. Hovingh, S. Rozen, F. van der Veen, and S. Repping Y chromosome gr/gr deletions are a risk factor for low semen quality Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2009; 24(10): 2667 - 2673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Lu, J. Zhang, Y. Li, Y. Xia, F. Zhang, B. Wu, W. Wu, G. Ji, A. Gu, S. Wang, et al. The b2/b3 subdeletion shows higher risk of spermatogenic failure and higher frequency of complete AZFc deletion than the gr/gr subdeletion in a Chinese population Hum. Mol. Genet., March 15, 2009; 18(6): 1122 - 1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C Krausz, C Giachini, Y Xue, M K O'Bryan, J Gromoll, E R.-d. Meyts, R Oliva, I Aknin-Seifer, E Erdei, N Jorgensen, et al. Phenotypic variation within European carriers of the Y-chromosomal gr/gr deletion is independent of Y-chromosomal background J. Med. Genet., January 1, 2009; 46(1): 21 - 31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Jamsai, A. Reilly, S.J. Smith, G.M. Gibbs, H.W.G. Baker, R.I. McLachlan, D.M. de Kretser, and M.K. O'Bryan Polymorphisms in the human cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) gene in Australian men Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2008; 23(9): 2151 - 2159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Mau Kai, A. Juul, K. McElreavey, A.M. Ottesen, I.D. Garn, K.M. Main, A. Loft, N. Jorgensen, N.E. Skakkebaek, A. N. Andersen, et al. Sons conceived by assisted reproduction techniques inherit deletions in the azoospermia factor (AZF) region of the Y chromosome and the DAZ gene copy number Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2008; 23(7): 1669 - 1678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Zhang, P.-q. Li, Q.-h. Yu, H.-y. Chen, J. Li, and Y.-s. He Development of a multiplex quantitative fluorescent PCR assay for identification of rearrangements in the AZFb and AZFc regions Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2008; 14(6): 371 - 376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Stouffs, H. Tournaye, J. Van der Elst, P. Haentjens, I. Liebaers, and W. Lissens Do we need to search for gr/gr deletions in infertile men in a clinical setting? Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2008; 23(5): 1193 - 1199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Ferlin, E. Speltra, A. Garolla, R. Selice, D. Zuccarello, and C. Foresta Y chromosome haplogroups and susceptibility to testicular cancer Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 13(9): 615 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Giachini, F. Nuti, E. Marinari, G. Forti, and C. Krausz Partial AZFc deletions in infertile men with cryptorchidism Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 22(9): 2398 - 2403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Mau Kai, K. M. Main, A. N. Andersen, A. Loft, N. E. Skakkebaek, and A. Juul Reduced Serum Testosterone Levels in Infant Boys Conceived by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2598 - 2603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. Zhang, C. Lu, Z. Li, P. Xie, Y. Xia, X. Zhu, B. Wu, X. Cai, X. Wang, J. Qian, et al. Partial deletions are associated with an increased risk of complete deletion in AZFc: a new insight into the role of partial AZFc deletions in male infertility J. Med. Genet., July 1, 2007; 44(7): 437 - 444. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Wu, N.X. Lu, Y.K. Xia, A.H. Gu, C.C. Lu, W. Wang, L. Song, S.L. Wang, H.B. Shen, and X.R. Wang A frequent Y chromosome b2/b3 subdeletion shows strong association with male infertility in Han-Chinese population Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2007; 22(4): 1107 - 1113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Rajpert-De Meyts Developmental model for the pathogenesis of testicular carcinoma in situ: genetic and environmental aspects Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2006; 12(3): 303 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y.-W. Lin, C.-L. Hsu, and P. H. Yen A two-step protocol for the detection of rearrangements at the AZFc region on the human Y chromosome Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2006; 12(5): 347 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. M.B. Carvalho, L. W. Zuccherato, L. Bastos-Rodrigues, F. R. Santos, and S. D.J. Pena No association found between gr/gr deletions and infertility in Brazilian males Mol. Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2006; 12(4): 269 - 273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||






