Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of two azoospermic patients with X-autosome translocation

Purpose: To report two azoospermic patients with reciprocal X-autosome translocations. Methods: Cytogenetic analysis utilizing GTG-banding and Yq microdeletions shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 12 sequence-tagged site (STS) markers for Y chromosome microdeletions. Results: Cytogenetic analysis showed one man with 46, Y, t(X;19)(q22; q13.3) and the other with 46, Y, t(X; 8)(p22; q11). Neither had any Yq microdeletions shown. The patient with 46, Y, t(X; 8)(p22; q11) showed a slightly lower than normal testosterone level. By NCBI-Blast search, we found four testis-specific genes, t-complex-associated-testis-expressed 1-like (TCTE1L), Ferritin, heavy polypeptide- like 17 (FTHL17), Testis expressed sequence 13A (TEX13A), and Testis expressed sequence 13B (TEX13B) located near breakpoints on X chromosome. FTHL17, TEX13A, and TEX13B are spermatogonially-expressed, germ-cell-specific genes. Conclusion: This is the first clinical report of azoospermia with reciprocal X-autosome translocations on Xp22 and q22. These translocations on Xp22 and q22 may be direct genetic risk factors for azoospermia.