Author/Authors :
Asadi، Fahimeh نويسنده Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , , Sadighi Gilani، Mohammad Ali نويسنده Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran , , Ghaheri، Azadeh نويسنده Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health at Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, , , Roodgar Saffari، Javad نويسنده Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran , , Zamanian، Mohammadreza نويسنده Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Objective: Microdeletions of the Y chromosome long arm are the most common molecular
genetic causes of severe infertility in men. They affect three regions including
azoospermia factors (AZFa, AZFb and AZFc), which contain various genes involved in
spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to reveal the patterns of Y chromosome
microdeletions in Iranian infertile men referred to Royan Institute with azoospermia/
severe oligospermia.
Materials and Methods: Through a cross-sectional study, 1885 infertile men referred to
Royan Institute with azoospermia/severe oligospermia were examined for Y chromosome
microdeletions from March 2012 to March 2014. We determined microdeletions of the Y
chromosome in the AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions using multiplex Polymerase chain reaction
and six different Sequence-Tagged Site (STS) markers.
Results: Among the 1885 infertile men, we determined 99 cases of Y chromosome microdeletions
(5.2%). Among 99 cases, AZFc microdeletions were found in 70 cases (70.7%);
AZFb microdeletions in 5 cases (5%); and AZFa microdeletions in only 3 cases (3%).
AZFbc microdeletions were detected in 18 cases (18.1%) and AZFabc microdeletions in
3 cases (3%).
Conclusion: Based on these data, our results are in agreement with similar studies from
other regions of the world as well as two other recent studies from Iran which have mostly
reported a frequency of less than 10% for Y chromosome microdeletions.
