Screening for abnormalities of chromosomes X, Y, and 18 and for diploidy in spermatozoa from infertile men participating in an in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection program

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of disomy (for chromosomes X, Y, and 1 8) and of diploidy in the spermatozoa of infertile men undergoing intracyto plasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Design: Prospective analysis of sperm nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybrid ization (FISH). Setting: University-affiliate IVF-ICSI program. Patient(s): Semen samples from 19 patients participating in an IVF-ICSI pro gram. Intervention(s): Semen samples were analyzed and prepared for FISH. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters were evaluated. The frequency of disomy for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 and the frequency of diploidy were anal yzed by FISH. Result(s): A total of 9,373 spermatozoa from 19 infertile patients were ana lyzed and compared with spermatozoa from a control group of 5 healthy men. No differences in the frequency of disomy 18 were found, but statistically significant differences in the incidence of sex chromosome disomy and of di ploidy were observed. Conclusion(s): The study of sperm nuclei by FISH is useful to improve genet ic counseling in infertile patients selected for ICSI. (Fertil Steril(R) 19 99;72:699-701. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).