Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-Dori, Niigata, 951-8520, Japan.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2010 Jun;27(6):293-7. doi: 10.1007/s10815-010-9400-0. Epub 2010 Mar 24.
AZFc deletions are associated with variable testicular histology ranging from the Sertoli cell only to spermatogenic arrest and hypospermatogenesis. Such variable phenotypes may be explained by progressive germ cell regression over time. Increased apoptosis is likely responsible for progressive regression of spermatogenic potential. This study evaluated germ cell apoptosis as a cause of the progressive decrease in the number of germ cells in patients with AZFc deletions.
This study evaluated germ cell apoptosis in patients with AZFc deletions. A total of 151 patients who were diagnosed with either severe oligozoospermia or non-obstructive azoospermia were screened for Y chromosome microdeletions. Germ cell apoptosis was examined using terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) on formalin-fixed 5-microm sections of testicular specimens.
Seven out of 117 (6.0%) patients with azoospermia and 4 of 34 (11.8%) patients with severe oligozoospermia had Y chromosome microdeletions. The percentage of apoptotic germ cells in the testes of patients with AZFc deletions were significantly increased compared to those of patients without AZFc deletions.
These results suggest that increased apoptosis of germ cells is responsible for the progressive decline of spermatogenic potential in patients with AZFc deletions.
AZFc 缺失与从唯支持细胞症到生精阻滞和少精子症的各种睾丸组织学表现相关。这种可变表型可能可以通过随时间推移的生殖细胞进行性退化来解释。凋亡增加可能是导致生精潜能进行性下降的原因。本研究评估了生精细胞凋亡是否为 AZFc 缺失患者生殖细胞数量进行性减少的原因。
本研究评估了 AZFc 缺失患者的生精细胞凋亡。共对 151 名被诊断为严重少精子症或非阻塞性无精子症的患者进行了 Y 染色体微缺失筛查。使用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的地高辛-dUTP 缺口末端标记（TUNEL）法在福尔马林固定的 5μm 睾丸标本切片上检查生精细胞凋亡。
在 117 名无精子症患者中有 7 名（6.0%）和 34 名严重少精子症患者中有 4 名（11.8%）存在 Y 染色体微缺失。与无 AZFc 缺失的患者相比，AZFc 缺失患者睾丸中生精细胞的凋亡百分比显著增加。
这些结果表明，生精细胞凋亡增加是 AZFc 缺失患者生精潜能进行性下降的原因。
