Authors: Martin, Renée H.¹; Greene, Calvin²; Rademaker, Alfred³; Barclay, Leona⁴; Ko, Evelyn⁴

Source: Human Reproduction, Volume 15, Number 5, May 2000 , pp. 1121-1124(4)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Infertile men with azoospermia now have the possibility of fathering children by testicular sperm extraction combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. However, there are concerns about the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in their spermatozoa. We have studied aneuploidy frequencies for chromosomes 13, 21, X and Y by multicolour fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) in testicular spermatozoa extracted from three men with non-obstructive azoospermia. The men were 34-37 years of age and had normal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations and normal 46,XY somatic karyotypes. A total of 3324 spermatozoa was analysed. The infertile patients had an elevated frequency of disomy for chromosomes 13, 21, XY disomy compared to controls but none of these reached statistical significance. Also there was no significant difference in the sex ratio or the frequency of diploidy in azoospermic patients compared to normal control donors. This first report on chromosomal aneuploidy in spermatozoa extracted from testes of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia suggests that some azoospermic men do not have a substantially increased risk of chromosomally abnormal spermatozoa.

Keywords: aneuploidy; azoospermia; chromosome analysis; fluorescence in-situ hybridization; male infertility

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and 3: Cancer Center Biometry section, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA 4: Department of Genetics, Alberta Children's Hospital,

Publication date: 2000-05-01

More about this publication?

• Human Reproduction features full-length, peer-reviewed papers reporting original research, clinical case histories, as well as opinions and debates on topical issues. Papers published cover the scientific and medical aspects of reproductive physiology and pathology, endocrinology, andrology, gonad function, gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, pregnancy, genetics, genetic diagnosis, oncology, infectious disease, surgery, contraception, infertility treatment, psychology, ethics and social issues. The highest scientific and editorial standard is maintained throughout the journal along with a rapid rate of publication.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Anatomy & Physiology ,  Obstetrics & Gynecology
• By this author: Martin, Renée H. ;  Greene, Calvin ;  Rademaker, Alfred ;  Barclay, Leona ;  Ko, Evelyn

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers