CHROMOSOMAL INFERTILITY IN HUMAN MALE

Cytogenetic studies in infertile men showed that chromosomal anomalies were more frequent in these patients than in general population. Sex chromosome anomalies, specially 4 7, XYY caryotype, are predominant by their frequency at the severity of testicular impair. Nevertheless, balanced autosomal rearrangements can also induce spermatogenic failure; they were of great interest in perfecting the hypothesis which try to explain germ cells atresia. Three mechanisms are proposed: - X-autosome interaction; - synaptic failure ; both could lead to a metabolic desorder and death of the germ cell; - somatic lesions of the gonad could also induce this degenerative process. Techniques of molecular biology joined up to cytogenetic investigations of meiosis will lead to a better understanding of the chromosomal male sterility.