The most common genetic causes of spermatogenic failure are sex chromosomal abnormalities (most frequently Klinefelter's syndrome) and deletions of the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions (AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc) of the Y chromosome. Several studies have proposed that partial AZFc deletions/duplications may be a risk factor for spermatogenic impairment. We describe a multiplex quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) method that allows simultaneous detection of these genetic causes and risk factors of male infertility. The 11-plex QF-PCR permitted the amplification of the amelogenin gene, four polymorphic X-specific short tandem repeat (STR) markers (XHPRT, DXS6803, DXS981, and exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene), nonpolymorphic Y-specific marker (SRY gene), polymorphic Y-specific STR marker (DYS448), and coamplification of DAZ/DAZL, MYPT2Y/MYPT2, and two CDY2/CDY1 fragments that allow for determination of the DAZ, MYPT2Y, and CDY gene copy number. A total of 357 DNA samples from infertile/subfertile men (n = 205) and fertile controls (n = 152) was studied. We detected 14 infertile males with sex chromosome aneuploidy (10 with Klinefelter's syndrome, 2 XX, and 2 XYY males). All previously detected AZF deletions, that is, AZFc (n8), AZFb (n1), AZFb + c (n1), gr/gr (n11), gr/gr with b2/b4 duplication (n3), and b2/b3 (n5), gave a specific pattern with the 11-plex QF-PCR. In addition, 32 DNA samples showed a pattern consistent with presence of gr/gr or b2/b4 and 4 with b2/b3 duplication. We conclude that multiplex QF-PCR is a rapid, simple, reliable, and inexpensive method that can be used as a first-step genetic analysis in infertile/subfertile patients.
Analysis of Y chromosome haplogroups, defined by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), is now a standard approach for study of the origin of human populations and measurement of the variability among them. It is also a new forensic tool, because it may allow determination of the origin of any male sample of interest. We have used a strategy for rapid, simple and inexpensive Y chromosome SNP typing of 343 male DNA samples, of which 211 were Macedonians, 111 Albanians and 21 Roma, Serbs or Turks. Using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) and a SNaPshot multiplex kit for single nucleotide extension reaction, 28 markers were grouped into five multiplexes. Twenty different Y haplogroups were found in these samples. The most common Y haplogroups in Macedonians were I2a-P37b (27.5%), E1b1b1a-M78 (15.6%), R1a1-SRY1532 (14.2%) and R1b1-P25 (11.4%). In the Albanians E1b1b1a-M78 accounted for 28.8%, R1b1-P25 for 18.0%, J2b2-M241 for 13.5% and R1a1-SRY1532 for 12.6%. We conclude that five haplogroups (E1b1b1a-M78, I2a-P37b, J2b2-M241, R1a1-SRY1532 and R1b1-P25) comprised 72.6% of the Y chromosomes, this being characteristic of the typical European Y chromosome gene pool.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the second most common lethal autosomal recessive disorder of childhood, affecting approximately 1 in 6,000-10,000 births, with a carrier frequency of 1 in 40-60. There is no effective cure or treatment for this disease. Thus, the availability of prenatal testing is important. The aim of this study was to establish an efficient and rapid method for prenatal diagnosis of SMA and genetic counseling in families with risk for having a child with SMA. In this paper we present the results from prenatal diagnosis in Macedonian SMA families using direct analysis of fetal DNA. The probands of these families were previously found to be homozygous for a deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1 gene. DNA obtained from chorionic villas samples and amniocytes was analyzed for deletions in SMN gene. SMN exon 7 and 8 deletion analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). Of the 12 prenatal diagnoses, DNA analysis showed normal results in eight fetuses. Four of the fetuses were homozygote for a deletion of exons 7 and 8 of SMN1. After genetic counseling, the parents of the eight normal fetuses decided to continue the pregnancy, while in the four families with affected fetuses, the pregnancy was terminated. The results were confirmed after birth.
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is rare a progressive neuro degenerative disorder of autosomal recessive inheritance, which is associated with an unstable expansion of a GAA trinucleotide repeat in the first intron of the frataxin gene on chromosome 9q13. We have performed molecular analyses of the frataxin gene of 40 patients with spino cerebellar ataxia from the Republic of Macedonia. Fifteen had early onset of progressive ataxia (before the age of 25), while the remainder were over 25 years old at the time of diagnosis. Only 14 patients had a mutation in the frat axin gene and all of these had early onset ataxia. The number of GAA repeats was in the normal range in 50 healthy individuals.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an Xlinked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene at Xp21.2. Mutations include gross deletions (60%), duplications (10%), and point mutations (30%). Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a serious and disabling disease. Progressive muscle wasting, which leads to severe disability and early death, make DMD highly distressing disorders to both patient and family. Since no effective treatment is as yet available, prenatal diagnosis is important for prevention of the disease. In this paper, we present our results from prenatal diagnoses in Macedonian DMD families. For prenatal diagnosis of 15 pregnancies at risk of having a DMD child, we used multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR), multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis (MLPA) and DNA linkage analysis, using highly polymorphic intragenic short tandem repeat [STR-(CA) n] markers. DNA material was extracted from chorionic villus and amniotic fluid samples. Eight of the fetuses were male, three of whom had deletions in the dystrophin gene and five were normal. Two of the female fetuses were carriers of deletions in the dystrophin gene.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.