Comparative Study of AZF Deletions and TSPY Gene Variation in Czech and Indian Infertile Men

Abstract

The human Y chromosome harbours genes that are essential for spermatogenesis. Most of these genes lie in the male-specific region (MSY) of Y chromosome. Microdeletions of AZF within the MSY have been reported in infertile men. Widely different frequencies of such deletions (0-55%) have been reported from different populations. TSPY is another gene located in the MSY region that plays a significant role in spermatogenesis. It is a multi-copy gene but the role its gene copy numbers play in infertility is not yet evaluated. The present study was undertaken on infertile men from Czech Republic and India to ascertain the relative and comparative role of AZF deletions and of TSPY copy numbers.