Open AccessThe Y chromosome gr/gr subdeletion is associated with male infertility
Author(s) -
Michael Lynch,
David S. Cram,
Anne F. Reilly,
Moira K. O’Bryan,
H. W. G. Baker,
David Morritz de Kretser,
Robert I McLachlan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
molecular human reproduction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.143
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1460-2407
pISSN - 1360-9947
DOI - 10.1093/molehr/gah191
Subject(s) - biology , infertility , genetics , male infertility , fertility , y chromosome , sperm , andrology , population , gene , pregnancy , medicine , environmental health
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.