RESUMO
Approximately 15 to 20% of infertile men have azoospermia. In the Y chromosome, a deletion termed the azoospermic factor has been found in cases of idiopathic azoospermia. It remains unresolved if MHC-mediated effects on fertility are based on direct immunological or non-immunological effect of human leukocyte antigen [HLA] genes or rather on defects in MHC-associated non-HLA genes that affect gamete quality and embryonic development. The object of this study was to study HLA genes in azoospermic Iraqi men for the first time in order to detect any association between HAL class I antigens and idiopathic azoospermia. A prospective pilot study was conducted from July 2001 to February 2002. Twelve azoospermic patients were tested from the Department of Urology at the Medical City Hospital, and 26 married, fertile males were studied as a control group. HLA typing was performed at the histocompatibility laboratory of the kidney transplant unit HLA-A, - B and -C antigens were determined using the two-stage lymphocytotoxicity test. HLA-A3, A26 and B21 were significantly higher in azoospermic patients in comparison with the control group [P<0.05]. The findings suggest that idiopathic azoospermia may have a genetic basis related to HLA factors