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Expansion of CAG repeats in the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene in idiopathic oligozoospermia patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The lengths of CAG repeats in two spinocerebellar ataxia genes, SCA1 and SCA3, were analyzed to determine whether such repeats exist in higher numbers in infertile males.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from healthy controls, oligozoospermia patients, and azoospermia patients. DNA fragments containing target CAG repeats were amplified by PCR with template DNA purified from the blood samples. CAG repeats in PCR fragments were determined, using ABI PRISM 310 Gene Analyzer.

Results

In SCA1, the distribution of CAG repeats in oligozoospermic males was different from that of the control group: More alleles had a repeat number that exceeded 32. Conversely, for SCA3, the examined oligozoospermia and azoospermia patients exhibited no differences in distribution of CAG repeats in comparison with the control group.

Conclusions

SCA1 in a subset of oligozoospermia patients has an increased number of CAG repeats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Yen-Chein Lai

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    Wen-Chung Wang

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, No.110, Sec. 1, Chien Kuo N. Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan

    Jiann-Jou Yang & Shuan-Yow Li

Authors
  1. Yen-Chein Lai
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  2. Wen-Chung Wang
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  3. Jiann-Jou Yang
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  4. Shuan-Yow Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuan-Yow Li.

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The spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene in a subset of idiopathic oligozoospermia patients showed increased numbers of CAG repeats.

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Lai, YC., Wang, WC., Yang, JJ. et al. Expansion of CAG repeats in the spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) gene in idiopathic oligozoospermia patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 26, 257–261 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9325-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9325-7

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