Investigation of SPGY1 microdeletion in patients with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia

AIM: To investigate the microdeletion of spermatogenesis gene locus on the Y (SPGY1) in patients with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. METHODS: SPGY1 in AZFc was detected in 40 normal males, 42 azoospermia patients and 31 severe oligozoospermia patients by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Six patients with azoospermia had SPGY1 microdeletion. The rate of microdeletion was 14% (6/42). Five microdeletion cases were found in severe oligozoospermia patients. Microdeletion rate was 15% (5/31). The average rate of SPGY1 deletion in patients with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia was 15% (11/73). No SPGY1 deletion was found in the forty fertile males. CONCLUSION: Microdeletion of SPGY1 in AZFc of Y chromosome may be one of the causes account for male infertility. It is necessary to detect the Y chromosome microdeletion should be detected in infertile males.