The Prevalence of Y Chromosome Microdeletions in Iranian Infertile Men with Azoospermia and Severe Oligospermia

Identification of novel homozygous missense and deletion mutations manifesting oligospermia infertility in Kashmiri population

BACKGROUND

Human male infertility has a lot of known molecular components that have an accurate diagnosis, such as Y chromosome deletion and monogenic causes. Only 4% of all infertile males are diagnosed with genetic causes, while 60-70% of infertile men remain without an accurate diagnosis and are classified as unexplained. Oligospermia is a major cause of human male infertility. Its etiology and pathogenesis are linked to genetic abnormalities. The majority of genetic causes related to human male infertility remain unclear.

RESULTS

Generally, we found a significant association between the specific type of disease and gender (p = 0.003), and the regression value (R2 ) for this association was 0.75. Association of the type of disease with body mass index was not significant (p = 0.34). There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.40) among disease types with patients occupations. All explored mutations are listed for primary and secondary infertility in relation to the oligospermia condition. p.Arg286X is the outcome of a mismatch mutation in which the nucleotide change resulted in the substitution of Arg (arginine) amino acid with X (any amino acid) at position 286 in the Hyal3 gene of primary infertile patients having oligospermia. In primary infertile patients with the p.Arg286X mutation, a frameshift deletion mutation was also found just after the 25 nucleotide sequences of the Hyal3 genes of the second mutated exon. This deletion mutation was only detected in patients with primary infertility and was not found in people with secondary infertility or healthy controls. The other mutations in secondary infertile patients with oligospermia were: p.Lys168Ser, replacement of lysine (Lys) with serine (Ser) at position 168; p.Lys168The, replacement of lysine (Lys) with threonine (The) at position 168; p.His113X, substitution of histidine (His) with an unknown amino acid (X) at position 113; p.Pro162X, substitution of proline (Pro) with an unknown amino acid (X) at position 162; and p.Phe157X, phenylalanine (Phe) substitution with an unknown amino acid (X) at position 157.

CONCLUSION

This study clarifies the site of novel mismatch and frameshift deletion mutations in the Hyal3 gene in primary infertile oligospermia patients.

The Role and Place of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Varicocele

The inability to become pregnant for at least 1 year despite regular unprotected intercourse may indicate infertility of one or both partners. This problem affects approximately 10-20% of couples worldwide, regardless of race, with male infertility reported to account for 25-60% of cases. Among the most common pathological causes of male infertility is the presence of varicocele and chronic infections of the male reproductive system. This study was performed using data collected at the Genesis Infertility Treatment Clinic, Bydgoszcz, Poland, between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2017. A total of 163 men meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into the idiopathic infertility group (78 men) and varicocele-related infertility group (85 men). All patients received treatment with a male fertility supplement containing a combination of 1725 mg of L-carnitine fumarate, 500 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, 90 mg of vitamin C, 20 mg of coenzyme Q10, 10 mg of zinc, 200 µg of folic acid, 50 µg of selenium, and 1.5 µg of vitamin B12 (Proxeed® Plus, Sigma-Tau, Italy) twice a day for a period of 6 months from the time of the diagnosis of infertility. The treatment resulted in significant improvements in general semen parameters, particularly sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, and progressive motility. This antioxidant therapy produced a particularly marked therapeutic benefit in patients with Grade III varicocele, with a greater improvement in progressive motility than in men with less severe or no varicocele. The use of the antioxidant preparation examined here seems reasonable in men with idiopathic infertility and as an adjuvant in those with varicocele-related infertility in whom surgical treatment has resulted in no improvement. Its use should be considered particularly in patients with Grade III varicocele who do not wish to undergo surgical treatment or in whom such a treatment is not possible for various reasons.

Basic and clinical genetic studies on male infertility in Iran during 2000-2016: A review

The male factor contributes to 50% of infertility. The cause of male infertility is idiopathic and could be congenital or acquired. Among different factors which are involved in idiopathic male infertility, genetic factors are the most prevalent causes of the disease. Considering, the high prevalence of male infertility in Iran and the importance of genetic factors in the accession of it, in this article we reviewed the various studies which have been published during the last 17 yr on the genetic basis of male infertility in Iran. To do this, the PubMed and Scientific information database (SID) were regarded for the most relevant papers published in the last 17 yr referring to the genetics of male factor infertility using the keywords ''genetics'', "cytogenetic", ''male infertility", and "Iranian population". Literatures showed that among the Iranian infertile men Yq microdeletion and chromosomal aberrations are two main factors that intervene in the genetics of male infertility. Also, protamine deficiency (especially P2) is shown to have an influence on fertilization rate and pregnancy outcomes. The highest rate of sperm DNA damages has been found among the asthenospermia patients. In several papers, the relation between other important factors such as single gene mutations and polymorphisms with male infertility has also been reported. Recognition of the genetic factors that influence the fertility of Iranian men will shed light on the creation of guidelines for the diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of the patients."

Male infertility, azoozpermia and cryptozoospermia incidence among three infertility clinics in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

Semen parameters are directly correlated with the infertility of the male. Incidence rates of male factor infertility, azoospermia and cryptozoospermia differ according to many factors such as geographic region, age, occupation and body weight. The aim of the present study is to determine the incidence of male factor infertility, azoospermia and cryptozoospermia among patients who have been admitted to three separate infertility clinics in Turkey for infertility investigation and analyze the outcomes of these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 9733 men, who have been admitted to 3 infertility clinics in Turkey due to infertility between March 2011 and October 2016, were included in the study. Male infertility, azoozpermia and cryptozoospermia incidence were calculated according to WHO criteria.

RESULTS

Male factor infertility was determined in 3114 (32%) of the patients including cases with azoospermia and cryptozoospermia. Azoospermia cases were observed in 570 (5.85%) and cryptozoospermia in 850 (8.73%) men. Azoospermic, and cryptozoospermic patients constitute 18.3%, and 27.2% of the male infertility cases. Sperm retrieval rates in diagnostic or oocyte pick-up plus testicular sperm extraction groups were found to be comparable (16.39%, and 41.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The data obtained may help to estimate the number of in vitro fertilization cycles and testicular sperm extraction cases, to determine social security policies, and reproductive potential, and in the light of these data to establish social insurance policies. These data will help patients to decide on treatment alternatives, and guide the urologists about the issue.

Y chromosome microdeletions frequency in idiopathic azoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, and oligospermia

BACKGROUND

Genetic factors are candidates for about 30% of male infertility with sperm production-related abnormalities. Y chromosome microdeletions are responsible for around 10% of male infertility. These microdeletions generally occur in azoospermia factor on the Yq. That is often associated with the quantitative reduction of sperm.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the frequency of Yq microdeletions among idiopathic azoospermic, oligoasthenozoospermic, and oligospermic men in Shohada infertility center, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 81 idiopathic azoospermic, oligoasthenozoospermic, and oligospermic infertile men were selected as cases and 81 fertile men assigned to control group. For molecular investigations, 13 sequence-tagged site markers were chosen from azoospermia factor (AZF) region for detection of Y chromosome microdeletions and amplified by two separate multiplex-polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between the AZF microdeletions and incidence of male infertility in the family, consanguineous parents, smoking, and the levels of reproductive hormones among infertile men were investigated.

RESULTS

The total frequency of the microdeletions was 6.17% (2 cases in azoospermic, 3 cases in oligoasthenozoospermic subgroups, and none in the oligospermic participants and the control group). Most deletions (3.7%) were seen in the AZFb followed by the AZFc (2.46%) and none in AZFa. No significant association was seen between the microdeletions and clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Although the frequency of Yq chromosome microdeletions in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province is lower than the mean frequency of Iran, the frequency is comparable to those reported by some studies in Iran.