Rationale: ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) and BNP (B-type peptide), encoded by the clustered genes Nppa Nppb , are important prognostic, diagnostic, therapeutic proteins in cardiac disease. The spatiotemporal expression pattern stress-induction of tightly regulated, possibly involving their coregulation an evolutionary conserved enhancer cluster. Objective: To explore physiological functions ...

PURPOSE We examined the relationship between L-PGDS (lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase) levels in seminal plasma and the presence or absence of obstruction in the male seminal tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS Semen samples were collected and analyzed from 1) 10 patients with normal semen parameters, 2) 9 with obstructive azoospermia, 3) 20 after vasectomy and 4) 14 with nonobstructive azoos...

In many organisms, the specification of cell fate and the formation of embryonic axes depend on a proper distribution of maternal mRNAs during oogenesis. Asymmetrically localized determinants are required both for embryonic axes and germline determination in anuran amphibians. As a model system of these processes, we have used a species complex of the genus Pelophylax (Rana), characterized by a...

Y-chromosomal DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) and autosomal DAZ-like (DAZL) comprise a gene family involved in gametogenesis. Y-chromosomal and autosomal genes only co-exist in humans and old world monkeys, indicating that DAZ genes are a recent acquisition of the Y chromosome. In most mammals, the ancestral Dazl alone is sufficient to complete gametogenesis. It is not yet understood why humans an...

In humans, the Deleted in Azoospermia Like (DAZL) gene is believed to function in the development of primordial germ cells and in germ cell differentiation and maturation because the expression of DAZL is only found in the germ and non-germ lineage of the reproductive system and in embryonic stem (ES) cells. The present study examined the presence of DAZL transcripts in the last stages of oocyt...

Genetic susceptibility has a prominent role in infertility. This study was proposed the association of Deleted in Azoospermia-Like (DAZL) A386G gene transition with male infertility in an Iranian population which followed by a meta-analysis in Asian population. In the case-control study we collected blood samples from 100 idiopathic infertile and 100 healthy fertile men. After DNA extraction, D...

Received on: April 28, 2009 – Accepted on: Oct 15, 2009 aBstRact Azoospermia is defined as the absence of mature spermatozoa in semen analysis after centrifugation. The causes of azoospermia may be related to spermatogenesis defects and classified as nonobstructive azoospermia, or to the obstruction of the efferent ducts of the genital tract and classified as obstructive azoospermia. Before the...