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SPAG5 mRNA is over-expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with Down’s syndrome and cryptorchidism

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Abstract

Men with Down’s syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of cryptorchidism, but the mechanisms causing its onset are not clear. Cryptorchidism causes a primary testiculopathy responsible for infertility. SPAG5 mRNA is predominantly expressed in testis in pachytene spermatocytes. This observation prompted us to evaluate the expression of SPAG5 gene in five DS men with cryptorchidism and five normal healthy men (controls) by quantitative real-time PCR in peripheral blood leukocytes. We found that SPAG5 is over expressed in the five men with DS and cryptorchidism compared with five age- and sex-matched normal controls. This finding suggests that the increased expression of this gene may play a pathogenic role durin testicular development in subjects with DS and cryptorchidism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Sandro La Vignera, Rosita A. Condorelli, Enzo Vicari & Aldo E. Calogero

  2. Laboratory of Cytogenetics, IRCSS Associazione Oasi Maria S.S., Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, 94018, Troina, EN, Italy

    Michele Salemi, Carmelo Romano & Paolo Bosco

  3. Unit of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Oasi Institute (IRCCS) for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging, Troina, EN, Italy

    Corrado Romano

  4. Laboratory Analysis, A.O.V. “Policlinico V. Emanuele”, Presidio “Gaspare Rodolico”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Giusi A. Longo

Authors
  1. Michele Salemi
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  2. Giusi A. Longo
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  3. Sandro La Vignera
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  4. Corrado Romano
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  5. Rosita A. Condorelli
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  6. Carmelo Romano
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  7. Paolo Bosco
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  8. Enzo Vicari
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  9. Aldo E. Calogero
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Correspondence to Michele Salemi.

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Salemi, M., Longo, G.A., La Vignera, S. et al. SPAG5 mRNA is over-expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with Down’s syndrome and cryptorchidism. Neurol Sci 34, 549–551 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1152-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1152-4

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