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This study aimed to investigate the potential application of DDX4 gene expression in cell-free seminal mRNA as a noninvasive biomarker for the identification of the presence of germ cells in men with nonobstructive azoospermia and to correlate this factor with testicular biopsy. Male reproductive organ-specific genes were chosen: DDX4, which is a germ cell-specific gene and transglutaminase 4, which is a prostate-specific gene that was used as a control gene. Thirty-nine azoospermic males and twenty-eight normospermic fertile males (serving as a control group) participated in the study. Histopathological examination of testicular biopsies categorised azoospermic males into 20.5% with maturation arrest, 17.9% with incomplete Sertoli cell-only syndrome and 61.5% with complete Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, positivity for DDX4 gene was detected in 17 of 39 males with NOA which was due to maturation arrest in 35.3% ( n = 6/17) of cases, due to incomplete Sertoli cell only in 23.5% ( n = 4/17) and due to complete Sertoli cell only in 41.2% ( n = 7/17). The study recommends joint utilisation of molecular transcripts as noninvasive biomarkers and histopathological examination of testicular biopsies in management of cases with azoospermia of the nonobstructive type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of Glycine102Serine molecular variant of luteinising hormone (LH) β-subunit gene with infertility in Egyptian males and to assess the impact of oxidative stress in association with Glycine102Serine molecular variant on male infertility. Fifty men with idiopathic oligozoospermia were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 39 men with normal semen parameters and proven fertility. Variable oxidative status markers were evaluated. Glycine102Serine variant was investigated using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction. The study concluded that Glycine102Serine variant of LH β-subunit gene is relatively common among infertile Egyptian males and might be implicated in some Egyptian infertility cases. In addition, the association of this variant, in some cases, with disturbed oxidative status (decreased seminal plasma antioxidants' level and increased sperm lipid peroxidation) probably have a significant role in accentuation of infertility in those particular cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]