Browsing by Author "Lapilainen, Suvi"

Azoospermia is an important cause of male infertility. It can be obstructive (OA) or non-obstructive (NOA). The aim of this study was to evaluate known etiology of NOA and OA, differences between their clinical characteristics and find candidates for future GATA4 research. Another aim was to explore known GATA4 gene variants in Finnish population as GATA4 is found to play a critical role in testicular function in mice. The characteristics, hormone levels and histological diagnoses of 147 azoospermia patients were collected and categorized as OA (49) or NOA (98). The NOA patients were younger, had smaller and softer testes and higher gonadotropin levels than OA patients. Known etiology was found in 10 % of NOA and 24 % of OA patients. Maturation arrest, hypospermatogenesis and Sertoli cell only patients would be the best candidates for further studies regarding GATA4 transcription factor and male infertility. GATA4 variants were searched from an open database and analyzed. 13 variants were found in Finnish population but with no data on fertility.