A case-control study identifying chromosomal polymorphic variations as forms of epigenetic alterations associated with the infertility phenotype.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association of chromosomal polymorphic variations with infertility and subfertility.


METHODS
A comparative case-controlled association study using cytogenetic techniques to compare the frequency of chromosomal variations in infertile individuals versus fertile controls.


METHODS
Department of Infertility Management and Assisted Reproduction, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, India.


METHODS
760 infertile individuals and 555 fertile controls.


METHODS
ICSI, IUI, karyotyping, inverted 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), CBG banding.


METHODS
Frequency of chromosomal polymorphic variations in infertile individuals undergoing infertility treatment versus fertile individuals.


RESULTS
A highly statistically significant increase in the frequency of total chromosomal variants in infertile women (28.31% vs. 15.16%) and infertile men (58.68% vs. 32.55%) was observed. The frequency of 9qh+ was statistically significantly increased in women with primary infertility (16.22% vs. 6.41%) and in men with severe male factor infertility (14.69% vs. 4.25%). A highly statistically significant increase in the frequency of Yqh+ was observed in men whose wives had a bad obstetric history (30.20% vs. 12.74%).


CONCLUSIONS
The statistically significantly higher incidence of heterochromatic variations found in infertile individuals stresses on the need to evaluate their role in infertility and subfertility. Potential epigenetic, genetic, and chromosomal modifications could be associated with certain complex disorders such as infertility and bad obstetric history.
Minocherhomji
Sheroy
S
Department of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, 15 Dr. G. Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai, India.
Athalye
Arundhati S
AS
Madon
Prochi F
PF
Kulkarni
Dhananjay
D
Uttamchandani
Shonali A
SA
Parikh
Firuza R
FR
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering