Screening for Y Chromosome Microdeletion in a Population of Infertile Males in Gaza Strip-Palestine

Abstract

Infertility is an extraordinary public health problem especially in our Arab world, affecting about 15% of reproductive age couples. In about 50% of cases, a male factor is responsible for infertility. Y-chromosome microdeletions involving the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions are known to be associated with spermatogenic impairment. In addition, partial AZFc deletions have been the subject of intense debate on whether they cause spermatogenic failures or not.  In the current study, 50 fertile males (control group) and 125 patients with primary idiopathic male infertility were studied to document Y-chromosome mirodeletions associated with male infertility in Gaza Strip-Palestine. No Y-chromosome classical microdeletions could be detected in any of the 125 infertile men, suggesting that ethnic factors, genetic background, and Y-chromosome haplogroups are key factors in such deletions. On the other hand, six gr/gr and one b1/b3 AZFc partial deletions were identified in the infertile population. The gr/gr deletion pattern was also evident in relatives of 4 of 6 patients who showed this deletion and in one of the fertile controls. In conclusion, our study shows that the incidence of Y- chromosome microdeletions in this population is rare, suggesting that other genetic, epigenetic, nutritional and local factors may be responsible for the idiopathic azoo/oligozoospermic condition in Gazan populations. In addition, we suggest that gr/gr deletion may not be associated with male infertility, at least in this population.