PURPOSE We assessed the frequency of azoospermia factor a (AZFa), AZFb, and AZFc deletions and examined correlations between the deletion sites and the success rates of sperm presence within the ejaculate and surgical sperm retrieval in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1,919 azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic men were assessed for Y chromosome microdeletions. Among them, 168...

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been widely used to detect Y-chromosome microdeletions, which is one of the major causes of male infertility. Both the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN) have recommended the use of sY84 and sY86 markers for the detection of azoospermia factor a (AZFa) microdeletion during DNA testing for m...

Background and Aims: Azoospermia factor (AZF) region of the Y-chromosome has several genes which are responsible for normal spermatogenesis. Microdeletions of these genes are associated with azoospermia and oligospermia. These microdeletions are too small to be detected by karyotyping. They can be easily identified using polymerase chain reaction. The aim of this study is to determine the frequ...

Background: The Y chromosome microdeletion is one of the best-documented causes of male infertility but the factors responsible for Y chromosome microdeletions in spermatozoa remain unresolved. However, the environmental pollutants are known to damage DNA in differentiating and maturing germ cells in the male reproductive tract. In view of this, the objective of the present study was to explore...