AIMS The Y chromosome accumulates male-related genes including sex-determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) and several spermatogenesis-related genes. The long arm contains azoospermia factor (AZF) region (including sub-regions AZFa, AZFb and AZFc). Microdeletions in this region are responsible for azoospermia and oligospermia and result in the male infertility. The aim of this study was to ana...

Maturation arrest (MA) refers to failure of germ cell development leading to clinical nonobstructive azoospermia. Although the azoospermic factor (AZF) region of the human Y chromosome is clearly implicated in some cases, thus far very little is known about which individual Y-chromosome genes are important for complete male germ cell development. We sought to identify single genes on the Y chro...

BACKGROUND To evaluate the improvement in semen quality and pregnancy rate after internal spermatic vein (ISV) embolization in men with nonobstructive azoospermia virtual azoospermia, or extremely severe oligoteratoasthenoazoospermia (OTA). METHODS A prospective cohort of 101 azoospermic or severe oligoteratoasthenospermic men of mean (+/-SD) age 34.1+/-7.7 years who underwent ISV between Sep...

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...

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...

this study was designed to determine the frequency of y chromosome azf (azoospermia factor ) subregions, microdeletions in patients with idiopathic nonobstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. subjects included 40 men who had been referred to infertility clinics for assisted reproduction, 37 were azoospermic and 3 had severe oligospermia. medical history and physical exam revealed no ...

Azoospermia is defined as the complete absence of spermatozoa upon examination of the semen [including capillary tube centrifugation (CTC), strictly confirmed by the absence of spermatozoa issued in urine after ejaculation]. The presence of rare spermatozoa (<500.000/ml) in seminal fluid after centrifugation is called "cryptozoospermia". The complete absence of spermatozoa should be confirmed w...

The aetiology of azoospermia can be grossly divided into obstructive and non-obstructive causes. Although in both cases testicular spermatozoa can be used to treat male fertility, it is not well established whether success rates following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are comparable. Therefore, a retrospective analysis of fertilization, pregnancy and embryo implantation rates was perf...