Aim: To study the role of genetics in human infertility.
Materials and methods: We collected 60 male and 41 female blood samples from infertile couples and carried out a cytogenetic study in both males and females, whereas molecular study was done in only male subjects. Standard Giemsa banding karyotyping protocol was followed for the cytogenetic study. For azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletion studies, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolation was followed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using AZF-specific sequence tagged site (STS) markers.
Results: In the female cytogenetic study, no structural or chromosomal abnormalities were found; three (7.31%) had polymorphic variants. In males, one (1.6%) had autosomal structural 46, XY, t (3; 17) (p25; q22), one (1.6%) had sex chromosomal numerical abnormalities 47, XXY (12)/46, XX (8) and four (6.66%) had the polymorphic variant. Two males and two females had 9qh+ with other normal chromosomal constitutions. In the same way, two other types of polymorphism were also observed, that is, 21pS+ in one male and one female, whereas 22pS+ was observed in one male subject. The translocation 46, XY, t (3; 17) (p25; q22) we have found is unique. In male blood samples, we studied six gene mutations named AZFa (sy84), AZFa (sy86), AZFb (sy127), AZFb (sy134), AZFc (sy254), and AZFc (sy255). We have observed deletions in eight subjects with a microdeletion frequency of 13.33%, where seven (87.5%) were azoospermic, and one (12.5%) was oligozoospermic. Most found microdeletions were AZFb (sy127) in three males and AZFb (sy134) in three males. AZFa (sy86) and AZFa (sy254) deletions were found in one male.
Conclusion: As per our knowledge, there is one novel translocation 46, XY, t (3; 17) (p25; q22) in one male patient from our research. We have also found AZF microdeletions in oligozoospermic and azoospermic patients. The results indicate the importance of karyotyping and microdeletion screening in chromosome Y for infertile couples before advising them of costlier treatments.
Clinical significance: The present investigation is a valuable consideration for prognosis, which can be helpful for counseling couples and minimizing the potential risk of transmission of genetic abnormalities to future generations.
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