Male Fertility

After other screens were completed, members of Dr Moira O.Bryan's laboratory at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development euthanased G3 males from ~100 pedigrees, performed sperm counts and cryopreserved the sperm, and analysed spermatid differentiation by histological analysis of the testes. Approximately 10 variant strains were identified, with three being analysed in detail initially based on affecting three distinct stages of spermiogenesis and their similarities to human infertility syndromes. These strains are currently being mapped and analysed, with the expectation that the causative genes will provide insights into the process of spermiogenesis and candidate genes for understanding infertility in humans and other species. Based on this pilot data, an ongoing expanded effort was funded as part of an ARC Centre of Excellence grant.

Cram DS, O'Bryan MK, de Kretser DM
Male infertility genetics--the future.
J Androl. 2001 Sep-Oct;22(5):738-46.