Quantitative proteomic analysis of human testis reveals system-wide molecular pathways associated with non-obstructive Azoospermia: Poster presentation

Male infertility is a complex condition that accounts for 50% of infertility problems experienced by couples. The majority of patients receive an idiopathic diagnosis, as the basic mechanisms of spermatogenic impairment are not well understood, although approximately 15% of infertile men display genetic chromosomal abnormalities, Y chromosome microdeletions and single gene mutations. Some candidate gene markers for defective spermatogenesis leading to male infertility have been extensively discussed previously, however, the treatment and management of male infertility requires significant further understanding of contributing molecular mechanisms. Despite the number of studies focusing on altered gene expression between normal and infertile patients, few studies have been conducted at the protein level even though proteins dictate most biological functions within living organisms.