Incidence of chromosome 8, 10, X and Y aneuploidies in sperm nucleus of infertile men detected by FISH

We studied the frequency of aneuploidy in sperm nuclei of six infertile men with abnormal semen profile and normal karyotype, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with DNA probes for chromosomes 8, 10, X and Y. The control group consisted of four healthy fertile men with normal karyotype and semen profiles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences between infertile male donors and control donors for: (1) the incidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy, and (2) the number of disomies for chromosomes 8, and 10 cosegregating with chromosomes X and Y. FISH analysis showed no significant differences of sex ratios of the sperm nuclei in and between infertile and control groups. The most significant abnormalities in the infertile group were clusters of sperm nuclei bearing XY and XYY. In addition, the incidence of disomic sperm nuclei for chromosomes 8 and 10 consegregating with sex chromosomes was not significantly different beween the patient and control groups, nor within them. However, the total frequency of aneuploid sperm nuclei was significantly different beween the infertile group and the control group. We observed a significant excess of sperm nuclei bearing chromosome 10 along with disomy for chromosome Y (10YY). In conclusion, our results from FISH analysis demonstrate a significantly increased frequency of aneuploidy for the sex chromosomes in sperm nuclei from infertile men. Therefore it may be concluded that infertility is a risk factor for sex chromosome aneuploidy in sperm nuclei. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.