Bringing epigenetics into the diagnostics of the andrology laboratory：challenges and perspectives

• 来源期刊: 亚洲男性学杂志（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2014,（9）
• 所属期刊栏目: PERSPECTIVE
• 页码范围: 669-674
• 页数: 6页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.125412

摘要

Recent studies have shown signiifcant associations of aberrant DNA methylation in spermatozoa with idiopathic male infertility, increased frequency of spontaneous abortions and imprinting disorders. Thus, the analysis of DNA methylation of speciifc genes in spermatozoa has the potential to become a new valuable diagnostic marker in clinical andrology. This perspective article discusses the current state and value of DNA methylation analysis in the diagnostic setup of infertile men and outlines challenges and perspectives. It highlights the potential of DNA methylation in andrological diagnostics and its putative beneift in the examination of hitherto idiopathic infertile patients is described.