GENETIC CAUSES OF MALE-INFERTILITY

Male infertility has often been ascribed to infections, immunologic fa ctors, chemical insults or malformations. About 10% of infertile males have severe defects in sperm production. Lately, research has focused on possible genetic aetiologies. In this review genetic causes of mal e infertility are discussed. For pragmatic reasons three groups have b een defined. In the first group, disorders of sexual differentiation a ssociated with male infertility are considered. In the second group, m ale infertility is discussed in a context of some genetic diseases. In the third group, genetic causes for isolated defects of sperm product ion and function are reported.