title: High frequency of satellite association in metaphases of infertile male patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study is designed to evaluate the contribution of satellite association phenomenon on spermatogenic impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a one year period, January 1999 through to January 2000, the frequency of satellite association has been investigated in 57 patients, with the clinical diagnosis of male infertility. This study was carried out at the Middle Euphrates Center for Cancer Researches, College of Medicine, Kufa University, Kufa, Iraq. Of those 57 patients, 33 patients were diagnosed with azoospermia and 24 patients with oligospermia, the efficacy evaluation was based on the measurement of 8 satellite association parameters. Blood culture and chromosome harvesting was carried out according to our standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our experience of association behavior of acrocentric chromosome in the 57 infertile males showed statistically significant difference in infertile male classes compared to control groups. Eight studied parameters were included in the evaluation (P<0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significant increase in the satellite association is proposed to have another indirect causal factor, which influenced spermatogenesis. Furthermore, the satellite association technique may be used as a laboratory method for the evaluation of male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Kufa University, Kufa, Iraq. kufa@uruklink.net
authors.forename: Akeel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yasseen
authors.forename: Aida F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Aunuiz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*