CLIC4 regulates apical exocytosis and renal tube luminogenesis through retromer- and actin-mediated endocytic trafficking.

Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) is a mammalian homologue of EXC-4 whose mutation is associated with cystic excretory canals in nematodes. Here we show that CLIC4-null mouse embryos exhibit impaired renal tubulogenesis. In both developing and developed kidneys, CLIC4 is specifically enriched in the proximal tubule epithelial cells, in which CLIC4 is important for luminal delivery, microvillus morphogenesis, and endolysosomal biogenesis.

Diagnosis of the gr/gr Y chromosome microdeletion does not help in the treatment of infertile American men.

Purpose: The phenotypic effects of the gr/gr partial azoospermia factor c deletion vary geographically and to our knowledge have not been reported in the American population. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of infertile American men with the gr/gr deletion.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data on 1,410 infertile men tested for the gr/gr deletion.

A decade of experience emphasizes that testing for Y microdeletions is essential in American men with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.

Objective: To evaluate the benefit of Y microdeletion testing.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University-based male fertility clinic and genetics laboratory.