Aneuploidy in spermatozoa of infertile men with teratozoospermia

Recent studies have shown that aneuploidy in spermatozoa of infertile men with poor semen quality is increased. The purpose of this study was to determine whether poor sperm morphology is associated with the incidence of spermatozoa with numerical chromosome abnormalities. Semen samples from 20 infertile teratozoospermic men were studied using multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Men were divided into four groups according to the proportion of normal sperm morphology: infertile men with < 10% (group A, n=7), 10-19% (group B, n=6), and 20-29% (group C, n=7) of morphologically normal spermatozoa, and controls (group D, n=5) with greater than or equal to 30% normal forms. Two hybridizations were performed. All the samples were analysed using probes for chromosomes 1 and 7 and, in addition, in group A and in controls with normal semen parameters probes for chromosomes X, Y and 18 were also used. Ten thousand spermatozoa were scored per hybridization. Severely teratozoospermic men (< 10% normal forms) had significantly higher frequency of disomy 7, 18, YY, XY and diploidy in their spermatozoa when compared with controls. The results suggest that poor sperm morphology is associated with numerical chromosome abnormalities of spermatozoa. Severely teratozoospermic men may be at an increased risk of producing aneuploid offspring.