Detection of Y chromosome microdeletion in AZFb and AZFc loci using sequence tagged sites ( STSs )

This study is intended to find out the frequency of Y chromosome AZF (Azoospermia Factor) subregions microdeletions in Sudanese men complain of not been fathers after one year of unprotected sexual intercourses. Study participants were thirty two males who referred to fertility clinics for assisted reproduction techniques (ART). Using semen analysis, eighteen were found azoospermic and fourteen were found oligospermic. Four couples; males and females who achieved pregnancy during the first year of marriage were used as positive and negative control correspondingly. Testicular sperm extraction was done for ten azoospermic participants, 40% failed to retrieve sperms from both testes. DNA was isolated from blood samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on six loci spanning the AZFb and AZFc subregions of the Y chromosome. Microdeletions of the Y chromosome were found in 12 out of 32 participants 37.5%. Microdeletion at AZFc subregion was found to be most frequent (50%). The microdeletion at AZFb loci was found to be 33.3%, and deletion at both loci AZFb+c were 16.7%. In conclusion, couples who attend fertility clinics and plan to use assisted reproductive techniques (ART) it is preferable to assess Yq11 microdeletions previous to deciding for ART because these microdeletion will transferred to the produced progeny.