Independent of DAZL-T54A variant and AZF microdeletion in a sample of Egyptian patients with idiopathic non-obstructed azoospermia

BACKGROUND: The microdeletion events that occur in the Y chromosome-azoospermia factor (AZF) region may lead to dyszoospermia. Also, the deleted azoospermia (DAZ) gene on AZFc and autosomal deleted azoospermia like gene (DAZL) are suggested to represent impairment, so it is interesting to determine the independency pattern of the AZF region and DAZL gene in azoospermic patients. AIM: To study the molecular characterization of AZFc and DAZL in 64 idiopathic non-obstructed azoospermia patients and 30 sexually reproductive men. METHODS: SYBR Green I (Q-PCR) and AZF-STS analysis was used for DAZ gene, and SNV-PCR and confirmative Sanger sequencing for DAZL gene. RESULTS: The present study observed that 15.6% had AZFc microdeletion, out of which 10% had DAZ1/2 deletion, and no T54A variant in the DAZL gene was found. CONCLUSION: In the current work, the novelty is that spermatogenic impairment phenotype, present with AZFc microdeletions, is independent of the T54A variant in the DAZL gene, and AZFc microdeletions could be a causative agent in spermatogenic impairment.