Research question: Would the use of genome-wide genotyping be an advantageous strategy to identify the molecular aetiology of two brothers from a non-consanguineous family, clinically diagnosed with total globozoospermia?
Design: Two related Spanish globozoospermic patients were studied. Eight first- and second-degree family members were also included in the study. The clinical procedure included anamnesis, physical examination and semen analyses. Acrosome visualization was performed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin labelling and ultrastructural electron microscope sperm analysis. Sperm DNA fragmentation was determined by TUNEL and SCD. Molecular analysis included: the detection of deletion of the DPY19L2 gene by a BPa (break point "a") gap-polymerase chain reaction, and genotyping by using a high-throughput genome-wide genotyping platform and a genotype imputation strategy.
Results: The biological characteristics of the two globozoospermic siblings included round-headed spermatozoa without an acrosome; ultrastructural defects in spermatozoa; increased sperm fragmentation and aneuploidies, inability of spermatozoa to activate oocytes (correctable with artificial activation) and good developmental potential of embryos generated by IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This genetic study focused on a genome-wide compound heterozygote analysis that identified two deleterious rare coding variants in the DPY19L2 gene [rs771726551 (c.431T>A exon 3) and rs147579680 (c.869G>A exon 8)].
Conclusion: A genome-wide compound heterozygote analysis strategy should be considered for molecular screening in globozoospermia and other rare congenital diseases, particularly in cases from non-consanguineous families.
Keywords: GWAS; Genetic diagnosis; Genome-wide association studies; Globozoospermia; Male infertility; Non-consanguinity; Sperm ultrastructure.
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