CHROMOSOMAL ANALYSIS OF SPERM FROM MEN WITH IDIOPATHIC INFERTILITY USING SPERM KARYOTYPING AND FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

Objective: To determine if idiopathic infertile men having oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, or teratozoospermia have an elevated risk of transmitting chromosomal abnormalities to their offspring. Design: Sperm chromosomal complements from five somatically normal infertile men were assayed using the human sperm-hamster oocyte fusion system and the disomy frequencies for chromosomes 1, 12, and the sex chromosomes were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Setting: Infertile men and normal donors were volunteers in an academic research environment. Patients: Five men with the appropriate semen characteristics were recruited among patients concerned about their infertility. Interventions: Sperm fused with hamster oocytes resulting in sperm chromosomes or the sperm nuclei were prepared for fluorescence in situ hybridization. Main Outcome Measure: Structural and numerical abnormalities assessed by sperm karyotypes and the disomy frequency determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Results: The infertile men showed increased frequencies of numerical abnormalities and total abnormalities as determined by sperm karyotyping. Analysis of sperm nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated a significant increase in the frequency of disomy for chromosome I and XY disomy. Conclusions: Sperm from infertile men may contain an increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities.