CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES AND POLYMORPHISMS IN INFERTILE MEN

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of alterations and normal variable chromosome features in males from infertile couples. Karyotyping was performed to 84 men attending the infertility clinic at the Hospital Clinic i Provincial of Barcelona (Spain). Sex chromosome abnormalities were detected in 19 patients (26.62%): 14 (16.67%) aneuploidies 47,XXY and 47,XYY, 3 (3.57%)Y-chromosome long arm deletions; 1 (1.19%) mosaic 45,x/46,XY and 1 (1.19%) Robertsonian translocation (45,X-15-Y+t(15p; Yq). Chromosomal polymorphisms were observed in 29 patients. Yqh+ was the most frequent variant in sex chromosomes and increased length in heterochromatin and satellites were present in autosomal chromosomes. The high prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities observed in infertile men justify the use of karyotyping to evaluate males enrolled in new assisted reproductive technologies programs.