The Association between Y Chromosome Microdeletion and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

BACKGROUND: To date, the role of male factor contributing in evaluation of spontaneous recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has been less investigated and there is discrepancy in the role of Y chromosome microdeltions in RPL. Therefore, the current study was designed to examine whether Y chromosome microdeletions were associated with RPL in an Iranian population. METHODS: One hundred men from couples, experiencing three or more RPLs, and one hundred normal men from couples with at least one child and no history of miscarriages as control group were included. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and tested for Y chromosome microdeletions in AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions using two multiplex PCR. RESULTS: None of the men in the case and control groups had any microdeletions in the AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions. CONCLUSION: It seems that Y chromosome microdeletion is not associated with recurrent pregnancy loss, therefore performing this test in Iranian couples with RPL is not recommended.

Evaluation of ubiquitin and annexin V in sperm population selected based on density gradient centrifugation and zeta potential (DGC-Zeta).

PURPOSE: Sperm that bypass natural apoptosis and the ubiquitin-proteasome system may find their way into semen. In order to avoid the insemination of such sperm during an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, novel sperm selection procedures such as the Zeta procedure have been implemented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate extent of ubiquitination and external phosphatidylserine (EPS) in sperm populations selected by combines density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and Zeta electric potential in comparison to DGC and neat semen samples. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from 51 infertile men and divided into control, DGC and DGC-Zeta groups. Semen analysis was carried out according to World Health Organization criteria. The percentages of protamine deficiency, DNA fragmentation, EPS and ubiquitinated sperm were assessed by chromomycin A3 (CMA3), TUNEL, Annexin V, and immunostaining, respectively. RESULTS: Sperm selected by the DGC-Zeta procedure presented a lower percentage of sperm with protamine deficiency, abnormal morphology and DNA fragmentation while the percentage of annexin V and ubiquitin-positive sperm increased. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that, DGC-Zeta improves the quality of the selected spermatozoa for ICSI and increases ubiquitination and EPS rates. We propose these alterations are part of the normal physiological process of capacitation.