a rare de novo complex chromosomal rearrangement (ccr) involving four chromosomes in an oligo-asthenosperm infertile man

complex chromosomal rearrangements (ccrs) are rare events involving more than two chromosomes and over two breakpoints. they are usually associated with infertility or sub fertility in male carriers. here we report a novel case of a ccr in a 30-year-old oligoasthenosperm man with a history of varicocelectomy, normal testes size and normal endocrinology profile referred for chromosome analysis to the genetics unit of royan reproductive biomedicine research center. chromosomal analysis was performed using peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures and analyzed by gtg banding. additional tests such as c-banding and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (fish) procedure for each of the involved chromosomes were performed to determine the patterns of the segregations. y chromosome microdeletions in the azoospermia factor (azf) region were analyzed with multiplex polymerase chain reaction. to identify the history and origin of this ccr, all the family members were analyzed. no micro deletion in y chromosome was detected. the same de novo reciprocal exchange was also found in his monozygous twin brother. the other siblings and parents were normal. ccrs are associated with male infertility as a result of spermatogenic disruption due to complex meiotic configurations and the production of chromosomally abnormal sperms. these chromosomal rearrangements might have an influence on decreasing the number of sperms.