Expression of CDY1 may identify complete spermatogenesis

Objective: To investigate the expression of deleted in azoospermia (DAZ), RNA-binding motif (RBM), and chromodomain y1 (CDY1) genes in the testes of men with azoospermia with variable histopathologies. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Andrology laboratory of a university-affiliated maternity hospital. Patient(s): Sixty-six men with azoospermia. Intervention(s): Testicular sperm extraction. Main Outcome Measure(s): The results of gene expression in testicular tissue tested by RT-PCR were correlated with those of histopathologically and microscopically examined minced testicular tissue. Y chromosome microdeletion testing and karyotyping were performed, as was direct sequencing of CDY1-PCR products. Result(s): CDY1-minor expression was detected in all biopsies in which mature spermatids/spermatozoa were observed by histological analysis and/or in the minced tissue. CDY1-minor expression was also detected in two biopsies with arrest at the spermatocyte stage during which no mature spermatids/spermatozoa were observed. A previously unreported CDY1-minor alternative splicing transcript was identified. DAZ and RBM gene expressions were detected in all biopsies in which at least a few germinal cells in early stages were found and in one biopsy histologically determined as Sertoli cell only. Conclusion(s): Our preliminary results suggest that CDY1-minor expression might increase the prospect for complete spermatogenesis, while RBM and DAZ expression can only be indicative of the presence of germinal cells. (C) 2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.