TGIFLY mRNA Expression in Human Testis with Spermatogenesis Defects

Hox genes are well-known transcription factors that play essential roles in directing embryonic development. TGIFLY is a Y-linked homeobox gene that was originally identified by virtue of its expression in adult testis. The functions of TGIFLY in normal and abnormal development are unknown. To investigate the potential roles of TGIFLY gene in the infertile males, a semi-nested Reverse Transcriptase Po ly merase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on the testicular samples of 110 patients with non-obstructive azoosper mia. The expression of TGIFLY in 59(53.6%) out of 110 patients were undetectable. Patients with different sper mato gene sis defects failed to show the expected in TGIFLY gene expression as demonstrated in the normal testes. Our results indicate that TGIFLY is expressed in testis and could be associated with infertility in patients with azoo spermia. TGIFLY may be required for the regulation of spermatogonial stem cell specification and proliferation that is es sen tial to the establishment and maintenance of spermatogenesis in human.