[Synaptonemal complex--an essential role in etiology of idiopathic azoospermia]

Synaptonemal complex (SC) which is a meiosis-specific supramolecular proteinaceous structure plays a crucial role in condensation, pairing, recombination and disjunction of homologous chromosomes at meiosis I. In recent years,a series of new developments on SC has been made, including new findings in both component and function of SC. Abnormalities of SC resulting from genetic mutation can directly induce arrest of spermatogenesis in rat model. More importantly, in human male patients with non-obstructive infertility the fact that genetic variation of SC (e.g. SCP3) is the causative factor of idiopathic azoospermia had been confirmed, and the investigation of SCP1 is under way.