FISH on sperm heads allows the analysis of chromosome segregation and interchromosomal effects in carriers of structural rearrangements: results in a translocation carrier, t(5;8)(q33;q13)

Using three-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with specific DNA probes, we have determined the chromosome segregation pattern of the translocated chromosomes in a human male carrier of a reciprocal translocation, t(5;8)(q33;q13). At the same time, we have assessed the possible interchromosomal effect on pair 21 using dual-color FISH. The segregation results showed that a 45.12% of the spermatozoa analyzed resulted from alternate segregation, 38.31% resulted from adjacent I, 6.97% from adjacent II, and 6.56% from 3:1 segregation. Finally, 1.23% could be either diploid sperm or 4:0 segregation. In both types of adjacent segregations, an excess of products containing short translocated segments (adjacent I) and interstitial regions (adjacent II) were found. Products resulting from the presence of an interstitial chiasma in pair 5 (1.26%), were found much more frequently (P < 0.0001) than those resulting from an interstitial chiasma in pair 8 (0.13%) (evaluated after adjacent II segregation). In 3:1 segregation, the products containing one chromosome were observed more frequently than those containing three chromosomes (P < 0.0001). No evidence of an interchromosomal effect on chromosome 21 was detected, the percentage of disomy 21 being similar to that in the controls (0.23% vs. 0.37%). However, the percentage of diploid sperm (1.18%) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than that in the controls (0.27%). FISH therefore appears to be a useful technique for assessing the percentage of abnormal sperm in translocation carriers. Their application in assisted reproduction centers could offer patients more accurate genetic counseling.