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Is congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens a primary form of cystic fibrosis? Analyses of the CFTR gene in 67 patients

Journal Article · · American Journal of Human Genetics
OSTI ID:70392
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Centre de Biogenetique C.D.T.S., Brest (France)
  2. University Hospital VUB, Brussels (United Kingdom)
  3. St. Luke`s Hospital, St. Louis, MO (United States)
  4. Catholic Univ. of Rome (Italy)
Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is an important cause of sterility in men. Although the genetic basis of this condition is still unclear, it has been shown recently that some of these patients carry mutations in their cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genes. To extend this observation, we have analyzed the entire coding sequence of the CFTR gene in a cohort of 67 men with CBAVD, who are otherwise healthy. We have identified four novel missense mutations (A800G, G149R, R258G, and E193K). We have shown that 42% of subjects were carriers of one CFTR allele and that 24% are compound heterozygous for CFTR alleles. Thus, we have been unable to identify 76% of these patients as carrying two CFTR mutations. Furthermore, we have described the segregation of CFTR haplotypes in the family of one CBAVD male; in this family are two male siblings, with identical CFTR loci but displaying different phenotypes, one of them being fertile and the other sterile. The data presented in this family, indicating a discordance between the CBAVD phenotype and a marked carrier ({delta}F508) chromosome, support the involvement of another gene(s), in the etiology of CBAVD. 35 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.
OSTI ID:
70392
Journal Information:
American Journal of Human Genetics, Journal Name: American Journal of Human Genetics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 56; ISSN AJHGAG; ISSN 0002-9297
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English