title: Polymorphic variants on chromosomes probably play a significant role in infertility.
abstract: Polymorphic variants on chromosomes are considered 'normal', as heterochromatin has no coding potential and nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) contain genes coding for rRNA. Variants have been reported in infertility and recurrent abortions. With refined molecular techniques, genes for fertility and viability are now thought to reside in heterochromatin. DNA sequence analysis of human chromosome 9 has shown that it is highly structurally polymorphic, with many intrachromosomal and interchromosomal duplications, and contains the largest autosomal block of heterochromatin. Transcriptional activation of constitutive heterochromatic domains of the human genome in response to environmental stress was reported recently. Heat shock triggers the assembly of nuclear stress bodies on the pericentromeric heterochromatin of human chromosomes including chromosome 9. These are characterized by an epigenetic status typical of euchromatic regions. On acrocentric chromosomes, NOR-associated protein count and morphology was reported to separate benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. Hence all variants may not be 'normal'. The present study of karyotyping 842 individuals attending an IVF clinic with primary infertility or repeated miscarriages, showed polymorphic variants in 28.82% of males and 17.19% of females, which was quite high. It is suggested that variants should not be ignored by cytogeneticists. Screening prospective gamete donors for chromosome variants may help enhance the success of IVF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai 400026, India. prochi_madon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Prochi F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Madon
authors.forename: Arundhati S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Athalye
authors.forename: Firuza R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Parikh
mesh_terms: D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000235:genetics; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D014644:Genetic Variation; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D006570:Heterochromatin; D014157:Transcription Factors