Evaluation of meiotic impairment of azoospermic men by fluorescence in situ hybridization.
OBJECTIVE
To identify predictive criteria for the existence of spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermic men.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Andrology laboratory at a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-two azoospermic men were divided into three groups by qualitative testicular histopathology and the presence of spermatozoa in minced biopsies.


METHODS
Testicular biopsies evaluation.


METHODS
The presence of spermatozoa and/or mature spermatids, the percentage of sex vesicle formation (X and Y chromosomes in proximity), and the pairing of the two 18 homologous chromosomes.


RESULTS
Spermatozoa and mature spermatids were found in 17 study patients. Whenever few mature spermatids and/or spermatozoa were found, the rates of X-Y and 18 bivalents were significantly higher (mean +/- SD, 73% +/- 13. 3% and 91% +/- 7.1%) than those in cases of spermatocyte maturation arrest (23% +/- 8.0% and 60% +/- 11.8%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Pairing of chromosomes during meiosis is apparently related to the progression of spermatogenesis. Consequently, high rates of bivalent formation increase the prospect of focal spermatogenesis in the testis, despite the failure to identify mature spermatids in the specific testicular biopsy under examination.
Institute for the Study of Fertility, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. layogev@inter.net.il
L
L
Yogev
R
R
Gamzu
S
S
Kleiman
A
A
Botchan
R
R
Hauser
H
H
Yavetz
D000328:Adult; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome