In this study, we aimed to determine whether the main mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） haplogroups of the Han people have an impact on spermatozoa motility, We recruited 312 men who were consecutively admitted to two affil...In this study, we aimed to determine whether the main mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） haplogroups of the Han people have an impact on spermatozoa motility, We recruited 312 men who were consecutively admitted to two affiliated hospitals of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from May 2011 to April 2012 as part of fertility investigations. Semen and whole blood samples were collected from the men. We determined the mtDNA haplogroups by analysing the sequences of mtDNA hypervariable segment I and testing diagnostic polymorphisms in the mtDNA coding region with DNA probes, No significant differences were found in the clinical characteristics of the mtDNA haplogroup R and non-R （P〉0.05）. Our results suggest that mtDNA haplogroup R is a strong independent predictor of sperm motility in the Han population, conferring a 2.97-fold （95% confidence interval： 1.74-4.48, P〈0.001） decreased chance of asthenozoospermia compared with those without haplogroup R.展开更多
SNP mutations in the HOXB13 gene associated with prostate cancer were determined in Moroccans prostate cancer patients (PCa). All PCa SNP mutations were new and belong to the SNP point-mutations located on the stop co...SNP mutations in the HOXB13 gene associated with prostate cancer were determined in Moroccans prostate cancer patients (PCa). All PCa SNP mutations were new and belong to the SNP point-mutations located on the stop codon of HOXB13 exon 1 and 2 located in chromosome 17. The five mutations and their frequencies were as follows: rs1197613952 (12%), rs1597934612 (4%), rs1597933874 (4%), rs1597933837 (4%) and rs867793282 (4%). The European HOXB13-G84E (rs138213197) PCa mutation was not detected among Moroccan patients. The Y-chromosome genealogical haplotypes of the Western European (R1b1b2-M2G9) and the Eastern European (R191a-M-17) were not observed in Moroccans PCa patients. The patients have their own haplotypes E1b1 and J with a frequency of 55 and 35%, respectively. The results of the SNP mutations in the HOXB13, the absence of the HOXB13-G84E of the European in the Moroccans PCa patients, the absence of the European-lineage haplogroups (R1a1a-M17 and R1b1b2-M269) and the presence of E1b1b and J in Moroccans PCa patients would clearly indicate the absence of gene flow from European to Moroccans gene pool.展开更多
BACKGROUND Globally,the World Health Organization ranks major depressive disorder(MDD)as the leading cause of disability.However,MDD molecular etiology is still poorly understood.AIM To explore the possible associatio...BACKGROUND Globally,the World Health Organization ranks major depressive disorder(MDD)as the leading cause of disability.However,MDD molecular etiology is still poorly understood.AIM To explore the possible association between mitochondrial ND6 T14502C mutation and MDD.METHODS Clinical data were collected from two pedigrees,and detailed mitochondrial genomes were obtained for the two proband members.The assessment of the resulting variants included an evaluation of their evolutionary conservation,allelic frequencies,as well as their structural and functional consequences.Detailed mitochondrial whole genome analysis,phylogenetic,and haplotype analysis were performed on the probands.RESULTS Herein,we reported the clinical,genetic,and molecular profiling of two Chinese families afflicted with MDD.These Chinese families exhibited not only a range of onset and severity ages in their depression but also extremely low penetrances to MDD.Sequence analyses of mitochondrial genomes from these pedigrees have resulted in the identification of a homoplasmic T14502C(I58V)mutation.The polymorphism is located at a highly conserved isoleucine at position 58 of ND6 and distinct mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms originating from haplogroups M10 and H2.CONCLUSION Identifying the T14502C mutation in two individuals with no genetic relation who exhibit symptoms of depression provides compelling evidence that this mutation may be implicated in MDD development.Nonetheless,the two Chinese pedigrees that carried the T14502C mutation did not exhibit any functionally significant mutations in their mtDNA.Therefore,the phenotypic expression of the T14502C mutation related to MDD may be influenced by the nuclear modifier gene(s)or environmental factors.展开更多
The paternally inherited Y chromosome has been widely used in forensics for personal identification, in anthropology and population genetics to understand origin and migration of human populations, and also in medical...The paternally inherited Y chromosome has been widely used in forensics for personal identification, in anthropology and population genetics to understand origin and migration of human populations, and also in medical and clinical studies （Wang and Li, 2013; Wang et al., 2014）. There are two kinds of extremely useful markers in Y chromosome, single nucle- otide polymorphism （SNP） and short tandem repeats （STRs）. With a very low mutation rate on the order of 3.0 x 10-8 mutations/nucleotide/generation （Xue et al., 2009）, SNP markers have been used in constructing a robust phylogeny tree linking all the Y chromosome lineages from world pop- ulations （Karafet et al., 2008）. Those lineages determined by the pattern of SNPs are called haplogroups. That is to say, we have to genotype an appropriate number of SNPs in order to assign a given Y chromosome to a haplogroup. Compared with SNPs, the mutation rates of STR markers are about four to five orders of magnitude higher （Gusmgo et al., 2005; Ballantyne et al., 2010）. Typing STR has advantages of saving time and cost compared with typing SNPs in phylogenetic assignment of a Y chromosome （Wang et al., 2010）. A set of STR values for an individual is called a haplotype. Because of the disparity in mutation rates between SNP and STR, one SNP haplogroup could actually comprise many STR haplotypes （Wang et al., 2010）. It is most interesting that STR variability is clustered more by haplogroups than by populations （Bosch et al., 1999; Behar et al., 2004）, which indicates that STR haplotypes could be used to infer the haplogroup information of a given Y chromosome. There has been increasing interest in this cost- effective strategy for predicting the haplogroup from a given STR haplotype when SNP data are unavailable. For instance, Vadim Urasin＇s YPredictor （http：//predictor.ydna.ru/）, Whit Atheys＇ haplogroup predictor （http：//www.hprg.com/hapest5/） （Athey, 2005, 2006）, and haplogroup classifier of Arizona University （Schlecht et al., 2008） have been widely employed in previous studies for haplogroup prediction （Larmuseau et al., 2010; Bembea et al., 2011; Larmuseau et al., 2012; Tarlykov et al., 2013）.展开更多
Background： Mitochondrial dysflmction is linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. However, the precise role of mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） variations is obscure. On the other hand, mtDNA haplogroups...Background： Mitochondrial dysflmction is linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. However, the precise role of mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） variations is obscure. On the other hand, mtDNA haplogroups have been inconsistently reported to modify the risk of PD among differeni population. Here, we try to explore the relationship between mtDNA haplogroups and sporadic PD in a Han Chinese population. Methods： Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms, which define the major Asian mtDNA haplogroups （A, B, C, D, F, G）, were detected via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism or denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 279 sporadic PD patients and 510 matched controls of Hart population. Results： Overall, the distribution ofmtDNA haplogroups did not show any significant differences between patients and controls. However, alter stratification by age at onset, the frequency of haplogroup B was significantly lower in patients with early-onset PD （EOPD） compared to the controls （odds ratio [OR] =0.225, 95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.082-0.619, P 0.004）, while other haplogroups did not show significant differences. Alter stratification by age at examination, among subjects younger than 50 years of age： Haplogroup B also showed a lower frequency in PD cases （OR = 0. 146, 95% CI： 0.030-0.715~ P = 0.018） while haplogroup D presented a higher risk of PD （OR - 3.579, 95% CI： 1. 112-11.523, P = 0.033）, other haplogroups also did not show significant differences in the group. Conclusions： Our study indicates that haplogroup B might confer a lower risk for EOPD and people younger than 50 years in Han Chinese, while haplogroup D probably lead a higher risk of PD in people younger than 50 years of age. In brief particular Asian mtDNA haplogroups likely play a role in the pathogenesis of PD among Hart Chinese.展开更多
The relationships between five classes of Japanese people （i.e., 96 centenarians, 96 Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） patients, 96 Parkinson＇s disease （PD） patients, 96 type 2 diabetic （T2D） patients, and 96 healthy ...The relationships between five classes of Japanese people （i.e., 96 centenarians, 96 Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） patients, 96 Parkinson＇s disease （PD） patients, 96 type 2 diabetic （T2D） patients, and 96 healthy non-obese young males） and their mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism （mtSNP） frequencies at individual mtDNA positions of the entire mitochondrial genome were examined using the radial basis function （RBF） network and the modified method. New findings of mitochondrial haplogroups were obtained for individual classes. The five classes of people were associated with the following haplogroups： Japanese centenarians-M7b2, D4b2a, and B5b; Japanese AD patients-G2a, B4cl, and N9b1; Japanese PD patients-M7b2, B4e, and B5b; Japanese T2D patients-B5b, M8al, G, D4, and F1; and Japanese healthy non-obese young males-D4g and D4b1b. From the points of common haplogroups among the five classes, the cente- narians have the common haplogroups M7b2 and B5b with the PD patients and common haplogroup B5b with the T2D patients. In addition, the 112 Japanese semi-supercentenarians （over 105 years old） recently reported were also examined by the method proposed. The results obtained were the haplogroups D4a, B4c1a, M7b2, F1, M1, and B5b. These results are different from the previously reported haplogroup classifications. As the proposed analysis method can predict a person＇s mtSNP constitution and the probabilities of becoming a centenarian, AD patient, PD patient, or T2D patient, it may be useful in initial diagnosis of various diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)is the most frequent reason of disabled people in the world,as reported by the World Health Organization.However,the diagnosis of MDD is mainly based on clinical symptoms.CASE ...BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)is the most frequent reason of disabled people in the world,as reported by the World Health Organization.However,the diagnosis of MDD is mainly based on clinical symptoms.CASE SUMMARY The clinical,genetic,and molecular characteristics of two Chinese families with MDD are described in this study.There were variable ages of onset and severity in depression among the families.Both Chinese families had a very low prevalence of MDD.The mitochondrial genomes of these pedigrees were sequenced and indicated a homoplasmic T3394C(Y30H)mutation,with the polymorphism located at a highly conserved tyrosine at position 30 of ND1.The analysis also revealed unique sets of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms originating from haplogroups M9a3 and M9a.CONCLUSION This finding of the T3394C mutation in two unrelated depressed patients provides strong evidence that this mutation may have a part in the etiology of MDD.However,In these two Chinese families having the T3394C mutation,no functional mt DNA mutation was observed.Therefore,T3394C mutations are related with MDD,and the phenotypic manifestation of these mutations may be affected by changes in nuclear genes or environmental factors.展开更多
Aim： To evaluate for the first time the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and the occurrence of the partial deletions of AZFc region in Moroccan men, and to discuss the clinical significance of AZF deletions. ...Aim： To evaluate for the first time the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and the occurrence of the partial deletions of AZFc region in Moroccan men, and to discuss the clinical significance of AZF deletions. Methods： We screened Y chromosome microdeletions and partial deletions of the AZFc region of a consecutive group of infertile men （n = 149） and controls （100 fertile men, 76 normospermic men）. AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and partial deletions of the AZFc region were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） according to established protocols. Results： Among the 127 infertile men screened for microdeletion, four subjects were found to have microdeletions： two AZFc deletions and two AZFb＋AZFc deletions. All the deletions were found only in azoospermic subjects （4/48, 8.33%）. The overall AZFc deletion frequency was low （4/127, 3.15%）. AZF microdeletions were not observed in either oligoasthenoteratozoospermia （OATS） or the control. Partial deletions of AZFc （gr/gr） were observed in a total of 7 of the 149 infertile men （4.70%） and 7 partial AZFc deletions （gr/gr） were found in the control group （7/176, 3.98%）. In addition, two b2/b3 deletions were identified in two azoospermic subjects （2/149, 1.34%） but not in the control group. Conclusion： Our results suggest that the frequency of Y chromosome AZF microdeletions is elevated in individuals with severe spermatogenic failure and that gr/gr deletions are not associated with spermatogenic failure.展开更多
基金This work was supported by grants from the Zhejiang Province Education Scientific Project （No. Y201225416）, the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province （No. 2010C 13028） and the Ministry of Health of PRC Science Foundation （No. WK]2010-2-013）.
文摘In this study, we aimed to determine whether the main mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） haplogroups of the Han people have an impact on spermatozoa motility, We recruited 312 men who were consecutively admitted to two affiliated hospitals of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from May 2011 to April 2012 as part of fertility investigations. Semen and whole blood samples were collected from the men. We determined the mtDNA haplogroups by analysing the sequences of mtDNA hypervariable segment I and testing diagnostic polymorphisms in the mtDNA coding region with DNA probes, No significant differences were found in the clinical characteristics of the mtDNA haplogroup R and non-R （P〉0.05）. Our results suggest that mtDNA haplogroup R is a strong independent predictor of sperm motility in the Han population, conferring a 2.97-fold （95% confidence interval： 1.74-4.48, P〈0.001） decreased chance of asthenozoospermia compared with those without haplogroup R.
文摘SNP mutations in the HOXB13 gene associated with prostate cancer were determined in Moroccans prostate cancer patients (PCa). All PCa SNP mutations were new and belong to the SNP point-mutations located on the stop codon of HOXB13 exon 1 and 2 located in chromosome 17. The five mutations and their frequencies were as follows: rs1197613952 (12%), rs1597934612 (4%), rs1597933874 (4%), rs1597933837 (4%) and rs867793282 (4%). The European HOXB13-G84E (rs138213197) PCa mutation was not detected among Moroccan patients. The Y-chromosome genealogical haplotypes of the Western European (R1b1b2-M2G9) and the Eastern European (R191a-M-17) were not observed in Moroccans PCa patients. The patients have their own haplotypes E1b1 and J with a frequency of 55 and 35%, respectively. The results of the SNP mutations in the HOXB13, the absence of the HOXB13-G84E of the European in the Moroccans PCa patients, the absence of the European-lineage haplogroups (R1a1a-M17 and R1b1b2-M269) and the presence of E1b1b and J in Moroccans PCa patients would clearly indicate the absence of gene flow from European to Moroccans gene pool.
基金Supported by the Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology Project,No.2023KY1126Suzhou Key Technologies Program,No.SKY2021063+3 种基金Jiangsu Province Social Development Project,No.BE2020764Suzhou Clinical Medical Center for Mood Disorders,No.Szlcyxzx202109Suzhou Clinical Key Disciplines for Geriatric Psychiatry,No.SZXK202116Suzhou Key Laboratory,No.SZS2024016。
文摘BACKGROUND Globally,the World Health Organization ranks major depressive disorder(MDD)as the leading cause of disability.However,MDD molecular etiology is still poorly understood.AIM To explore the possible association between mitochondrial ND6 T14502C mutation and MDD.METHODS Clinical data were collected from two pedigrees,and detailed mitochondrial genomes were obtained for the two proband members.The assessment of the resulting variants included an evaluation of their evolutionary conservation,allelic frequencies,as well as their structural and functional consequences.Detailed mitochondrial whole genome analysis,phylogenetic,and haplotype analysis were performed on the probands.RESULTS Herein,we reported the clinical,genetic,and molecular profiling of two Chinese families afflicted with MDD.These Chinese families exhibited not only a range of onset and severity ages in their depression but also extremely low penetrances to MDD.Sequence analyses of mitochondrial genomes from these pedigrees have resulted in the identification of a homoplasmic T14502C(I58V)mutation.The polymorphism is located at a highly conserved isoleucine at position 58 of ND6 and distinct mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms originating from haplogroups M10 and H2.CONCLUSION Identifying the T14502C mutation in two individuals with no genetic relation who exhibit symptoms of depression provides compelling evidence that this mutation may be implicated in MDD development.Nonetheless,the two Chinese pedigrees that carried the T14502C mutation did not exhibit any functionally significant mutations in their mtDNA.Therefore,the phenotypic expression of the T14502C mutation related to MDD may be influenced by the nuclear modifier gene(s)or environmental factors.
基金supported by the National Excellent Youth Science Foundation of China(No.31222030)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.91131002)+3 种基金the Shanghai Rising-Star Program(No.12QA1400300)the China Ministry of Education Scientific Research Major Project(Nos. 311016 and 113022A)the MOE University Doctoral Research Supervisor's Funds(No.20120071110021)the Shanghai Professional Development Funding(No.2010001)
文摘The paternally inherited Y chromosome has been widely used in forensics for personal identification, in anthropology and population genetics to understand origin and migration of human populations, and also in medical and clinical studies （Wang and Li, 2013; Wang et al., 2014）. There are two kinds of extremely useful markers in Y chromosome, single nucle- otide polymorphism （SNP） and short tandem repeats （STRs）. With a very low mutation rate on the order of 3.0 x 10-8 mutations/nucleotide/generation （Xue et al., 2009）, SNP markers have been used in constructing a robust phylogeny tree linking all the Y chromosome lineages from world pop- ulations （Karafet et al., 2008）. Those lineages determined by the pattern of SNPs are called haplogroups. That is to say, we have to genotype an appropriate number of SNPs in order to assign a given Y chromosome to a haplogroup. Compared with SNPs, the mutation rates of STR markers are about four to five orders of magnitude higher （Gusmgo et al., 2005; Ballantyne et al., 2010）. Typing STR has advantages of saving time and cost compared with typing SNPs in phylogenetic assignment of a Y chromosome （Wang et al., 2010）. A set of STR values for an individual is called a haplotype. Because of the disparity in mutation rates between SNP and STR, one SNP haplogroup could actually comprise many STR haplotypes （Wang et al., 2010）. It is most interesting that STR variability is clustered more by haplogroups than by populations （Bosch et al., 1999; Behar et al., 2004）, which indicates that STR haplotypes could be used to infer the haplogroup information of a given Y chromosome. There has been increasing interest in this cost- effective strategy for predicting the haplogroup from a given STR haplotype when SNP data are unavailable. For instance, Vadim Urasin＇s YPredictor （http：//predictor.ydna.ru/）, Whit Atheys＇ haplogroup predictor （http：//www.hprg.com/hapest5/） （Athey, 2005, 2006）, and haplogroup classifier of Arizona University （Schlecht et al., 2008） have been widely employed in previous studies for haplogroup prediction （Larmuseau et al., 2010; Bembea et al., 2011; Larmuseau et al., 2012; Tarlykov et al., 2013）.
基金This work was supported by the grant 81322017 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant NCET-13-0736 from Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, National Key Clinical Specialty Discipline Construction Program and Key Clinical Specialty Discipline Construction Program of Fujian.
文摘Background： Mitochondrial dysflmction is linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. However, the precise role of mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） variations is obscure. On the other hand, mtDNA haplogroups have been inconsistently reported to modify the risk of PD among differeni population. Here, we try to explore the relationship between mtDNA haplogroups and sporadic PD in a Han Chinese population. Methods： Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms, which define the major Asian mtDNA haplogroups （A, B, C, D, F, G）, were detected via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism or denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 279 sporadic PD patients and 510 matched controls of Hart population. Results： Overall, the distribution ofmtDNA haplogroups did not show any significant differences between patients and controls. However, alter stratification by age at onset, the frequency of haplogroup B was significantly lower in patients with early-onset PD （EOPD） compared to the controls （odds ratio [OR] =0.225, 95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.082-0.619, P 0.004）, while other haplogroups did not show significant differences. Alter stratification by age at examination, among subjects younger than 50 years of age： Haplogroup B also showed a lower frequency in PD cases （OR = 0. 146, 95% CI： 0.030-0.715~ P = 0.018） while haplogroup D presented a higher risk of PD （OR - 3.579, 95% CI： 1. 112-11.523, P = 0.033）, other haplogroups also did not show significant differences in the group. Conclusions： Our study indicates that haplogroup B might confer a lower risk for EOPD and people younger than 50 years in Han Chinese, while haplogroup D probably lead a higher risk of PD in people younger than 50 years of age. In brief particular Asian mtDNA haplogroups likely play a role in the pathogenesis of PD among Hart Chinese.
文摘The relationships between five classes of Japanese people （i.e., 96 centenarians, 96 Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） patients, 96 Parkinson＇s disease （PD） patients, 96 type 2 diabetic （T2D） patients, and 96 healthy non-obese young males） and their mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism （mtSNP） frequencies at individual mtDNA positions of the entire mitochondrial genome were examined using the radial basis function （RBF） network and the modified method. New findings of mitochondrial haplogroups were obtained for individual classes. The five classes of people were associated with the following haplogroups： Japanese centenarians-M7b2, D4b2a, and B5b; Japanese AD patients-G2a, B4cl, and N9b1; Japanese PD patients-M7b2, B4e, and B5b; Japanese T2D patients-B5b, M8al, G, D4, and F1; and Japanese healthy non-obese young males-D4g and D4b1b. From the points of common haplogroups among the five classes, the cente- narians have the common haplogroups M7b2 and B5b with the PD patients and common haplogroup B5b with the T2D patients. In addition, the 112 Japanese semi-supercentenarians （over 105 years old） recently reported were also examined by the method proposed. The results obtained were the haplogroups D4a, B4c1a, M7b2, F1, M1, and B5b. These results are different from the previously reported haplogroup classifications. As the proposed analysis method can predict a person＇s mtSNP constitution and the probabilities of becoming a centenarian, AD patient, PD patient, or T2D patient, it may be useful in initial diagnosis of various diseases.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo,No.2018A610292the Suzhou Key Technologies Program,No.SKY2021063+2 种基金the Jiangsu Province Social Development Project,No.BE2020764the Suzhou Clinical Medical Center for Mood Disorders,No.Szlcyxzx202109the Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology Project,No.2023KY1126。
文摘BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)is the most frequent reason of disabled people in the world,as reported by the World Health Organization.However,the diagnosis of MDD is mainly based on clinical symptoms.CASE SUMMARY The clinical,genetic,and molecular characteristics of two Chinese families with MDD are described in this study.There were variable ages of onset and severity in depression among the families.Both Chinese families had a very low prevalence of MDD.The mitochondrial genomes of these pedigrees were sequenced and indicated a homoplasmic T3394C(Y30H)mutation,with the polymorphism located at a highly conserved tyrosine at position 30 of ND1.The analysis also revealed unique sets of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms originating from haplogroups M9a3 and M9a.CONCLUSION This finding of the T3394C mutation in two unrelated depressed patients provides strong evidence that this mutation may have a part in the etiology of MDD.However,In these two Chinese families having the T3394C mutation,no functional mt DNA mutation was observed.Therefore,T3394C mutations are related with MDD,and the phenotypic manifestation of these mutations may be affected by changes in nuclear genes or environmental factors.
文摘Aim： To evaluate for the first time the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions and the occurrence of the partial deletions of AZFc region in Moroccan men, and to discuss the clinical significance of AZF deletions. Methods： We screened Y chromosome microdeletions and partial deletions of the AZFc region of a consecutive group of infertile men （n = 149） and controls （100 fertile men, 76 normospermic men）. AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and partial deletions of the AZFc region were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） according to established protocols. Results： Among the 127 infertile men screened for microdeletion, four subjects were found to have microdeletions： two AZFc deletions and two AZFb＋AZFc deletions. All the deletions were found only in azoospermic subjects （4/48, 8.33%）. The overall AZFc deletion frequency was low （4/127, 3.15%）. AZF microdeletions were not observed in either oligoasthenoteratozoospermia （OATS） or the control. Partial deletions of AZFc （gr/gr） were observed in a total of 7 of the 149 infertile men （4.70%） and 7 partial AZFc deletions （gr/gr） were found in the control group （7/176, 3.98%）. In addition, two b2/b3 deletions were identified in two azoospermic subjects （2/149, 1.34%） but not in the control group. Conclusion： Our results suggest that the frequency of Y chromosome AZF microdeletions is elevated in individuals with severe spermatogenic failure and that gr/gr deletions are not associated with spermatogenic failure.
