Correlation between semen parameters and sperm aneuploidy rates investigated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization in infertile men

Spermatozoa from 32 infertile patients and 13 controls with normal semen pa rameters were analysed using dual and triple colour fluorescence in-situ hy bridization (FISH) techniques, in order to investigate the rates of aneuplo idy for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. The patients were divided into thr ee groups according to their karyotypes or the karyotypes of their offsprin g: 15 were infertile men with abnormal semen parameters and normal karyotyp es (group 1), 13 were infertile men with abnormal karyotypes and normal or abnormal semen (group 2) and four were infertile men with abnormal semen an d normal karyotypes but whose wives conceived a child (or a fetus) with a n umerical chromosomal abnormality through an intracytoplasmic sperm injectio n cycle (group 3), Patients with abnormal semen parameters showed a signifi cantly higher aneuploidy rate for the investigated chromosomes in their spe rmatozoa compared to controls (P < 0.005). Our data suggest the presence of a correlation between poor semen parameters and an increase in aneuploidy rate of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y in spermatozoa (r = -0.81071, P < 0 .002); therefore the risk of a chromosomal aneuploidy in spermatozoa seems to be inversely correlated to sperm concentration and total progressive mot ility, Patients with abnormal karyotypes showed a higher incidence of diplo idy and chromosomal aneuploidies compared to controls (P < 0.002). This str ongly suggests the presence of an interchromosomal effect of the cytogeneti c rearrangement. Men who fathered a child,vith an abnormal karyotype throug h intracytoplasmic sperm injection did not present a higher aneuploidy rate for the investigated chromosomes in spermatozoa compared to patients with infertility due to a similar male factor but showed higher incidence of chr omosomal aneuploidy compared to normal controls.