SEMEN LEVELS OF MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA DELETIONS IN MEN ATTENDING AN INFERTILITY CLINIC DO NOT CORRELATE WITH PHENOTYPE

In view of previous reports associating mitochondrial DNA deletions wi th male reproductive disorders, levels of the 'common' 4977 bp mitocho ndrial DNA deletion were evaluated semi-quantitatively in 64 men, with out prior knowledge of the clinical diagnosis. Significant levels of d eletions were detected ill 34/64 men (53%) but 29 of these (45%) had a normal semen profile and were phenotypically normal: No deletions wer e detected in 30 men, of whom 21 were normospermic, six were oligozoos permic and three were azoospermic. It is concluded that although mitoc hondrial DNA deletions within the testis may be associated with primar y testicular disease, no correlation with semen quality was evident in this study, thus limiting its potential use as a diagnostic test.