Detection of DNA fragmentation and meiotic segregation in human with isolated teratozoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate levels of DNA fragmentation and chromosomal abnormalities in ejaculated sperm of males with isolated teratozoospermia and to determine if specific sperm morphological types occur simultaneously with these nuclear defects.


METHODS
Sperm obtained from isolated teratozoospermic men (n = 70) and fertile men (n = 30) were analysed using fluorescence in situ hybridization and TUNEL assay.


RESULTS
Teratozoospermic men, compared to fertile men, showed significantly higher rates of sex chromosomes disomy, and diploidy. Significant correlations were found between amorphous head, microcephalic head, short tail, and sex chromosomes disomy. Level of sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in teratozoospermic men than in controls and positively correlated to the incidence of macrocephalic heads, amorphous heads, and short flagella.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with isolated teratozoospermia have increased levels of DNA fragmentation and chromosomal aneuploidy. Some specific morphological abnormalities were shown to be predictive of chromosomal abnormalities and DNA alteration.
Brahem
Sonia
S
Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive biology, Farhat Hached, University Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia, brahemsonia@yahoo.fr
Mehdi
Meriem
M
Elghezal
Hatem
H
Saad
Ali
A
D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities*