Frequency of Deletion of AZF Region of the Y Chromosome in Chhattishgarh, India

Background: In the work up of male infertility, Y chromosome microdeletion screening is crucial. PCR is a very sensitive technique to screen Y chromosome microdeletion. In the current study, Y chromosome microdeletion was detected by PCR based technique. To the best of our knowledge, no such study has been reported from Chhattishgarh state of India so far. Material and methods: A total of seventy-three subjects were enrolled for the study during the period of one year. Out of which forty-seven subjects were cases (infertile men with oligozoospermia and azoospermia) and twenty-five were controls (with normozoospermia and having child). Semen analysis was done in each case to evaluate spermatogenesis status. Sperm DNA fragmentation by sperm chromatin dispersion of cases with oligozoopermia was also performed to detect DNA fragmentation Index. Results: Y chromosome microdeletion was observed in one out of forty-seven infertile males who were oligozoospermic or azoospermic. The type of deletion was AZFbc. Thus 2.12% men among oligozoospermic or azoospermic men have Y chromosome microdeletion in Chhattisgarh. Conclusion: In Indian population, AZFbc deletion has been found to be the second commonest type of deletion. In our study, we have also found this as the only deletion. This test also provides etiological interpretation of male infertility to the patient. We believe that awareness about transmission of deleted gene to the offspring could prevent infertility up to certain extent in the affected couples.