[Azoospermia factor microdeletion on Y chromosome in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia]

To investigate the correlation between male infertility and Y chromosome microdeletions of azoospermia factor (AZF) regions, and to establish a reliable genetic diagnosis in idiopathic infertile male patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.

Multiplex PCR amplification of 6 sequence-tagged sites in AZF regions of the Y chromosome was examined among 100 normal karyotype male patients with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

Four patients (4%) had Y chromosome microdeletions, the microdeletions of 3 patients were idiopathic azoospermic and those of the other 1 patient were secretory azoospermia.

The PCR-based Y chromosome microdeletion screening is simple and effective in the diagnosis of patients with severe male infertility. Microdeletion of Y chromosome is one of the major causes of severe dyszooospermia.