Analysis of spermatozoa from seven ICSI males with constitutional sex chromosomal abnormalities by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

PURPOSE: The objective was to estimate the risk for subfertile males with a constitutional sex chromosomal abnormality of transmitting such a chromosome abnormality to their children, conceived by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

METHODS

Semen samples were obtained from seven severely oligospermic ICSI candidates. Six of them had a numerical sex chromosomal abnormality, including mosaic 45,X/46,XY, mosaic 46,XY/47, XXY, 47,XXY (Klinefelter's syndrome), and 47,XYY. One male had a structural abnormality, namely, an inversion of the Y chromosome. The semen was studied by three-color fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes specific for chromosomes 18,X, and Y.

RESULTS

Chromosomal aneuploidy rates of any of the three chromosomes were significantly higher than the aneuploidy rates observed in three control samples but comparable to the rates observed in 10 ICSI candidates with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and a normal constitutional karyotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that males with (mosaic) sex chromosomal abnormalities have no higher risk of producing offspring with a sex chromosomal abnormality by ICSI than OAT males with a normal karyotype.