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 oligozoospe rmia, asthenozoospermia, or teratozoospermia have an elevated risk of transmitting chromosomal abnormalities to their offspring. Design: Spe rm chromosomal complements from five somatically normal infertile men were assayed using the human sperm-hamster oocyte fusion system and th e disomy frequencies for chromosomes 1, 12, and the sex chromosomes we re determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Setting: Infer tile men and normal donors were volunteers in an academic research env ironment. Patients: Five men with the appropriate semen characteristic s were recruited among patients concerned about their infertility. Int erventions: Sperm fused with hamster oocytes resulting in sperm chromo somes or the sperm nuclei were prepared for fluorescence in situ hybri dization. Main Outcome Measure: Structural and numerical abnormalities assessed by sperm karyotypes and the disomy frequency determined by f luorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Results: The infertile men showed increased frequencies of numerical abnormalities and total abn ormalities as determined by sperm karyotyping. Analysis of sperm nucle i by fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated a significant increa se in the frequency of disomy for chromosome I and XY disomy. Conclusi ons: Sperm from infertile men may contain an increased frequency of ch romosomal abnormalities.