Objective: To determine the patterns and the prevalence of microdeletions in the azoospermia factor subregions of the Y chromosome in Hong Kong Chinese men with severe male-factor infertility.
Design: Controlled clinical study.
Setting: Reproductive centre of a university teaching hospital, Hong Kong.
Participants: Fifty-eight men with severe male-factor infertility who participated in the in vitro fertilisation programme from May 1998 through March 1999, and 46 male volunteers with proven fertility.
Main outcome measures: Polymerase chain reaction analysis of DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes using six loci spanning the AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc subregions of the Y chromosome. RESULTS. No microdeletions were detected in the fertile controls or in patients with obstructive azoospermia. Deletions within the AZFc subregion were found in 9% (4/44) of men with non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligospermia. Neither AZFa nor AZFb deletions were detected in any participants.
Conclusion: Deletions within the azoospermia factor subregions of the Y chromosome are associated with severe male-factor infertility in Hong Kong Chinese men.