Sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation of balanced chromosomal rearrangements carriers.

INTRODUCTION Somatic chromosomal rearrangements that occur in infertile males are thought to be one of the major genetic factors influencing male infertility. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate sperm parameters in a group of patients with balanced translocations. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed semen of 84 balanced somatic translocation carriers [35 Robertsonian translocation (RT group) and 49 reciprocal translocation (RCT group)] and 57 men with normal karyotype (control group). Semen samples were evaluated for sperm concentration, its motion parameters and vitality, round cell number (CASA) and DNA fragmentation index (TUNEL). Cytogenetic evaluation was also performed for each study participant. RESULTS Sperm concentrations were lower when comparing the RT group to the control (p < 0.001) and RCT groups (p < 0.05). Occurrence of abnormal sperm concentration was more common among RT carriers (74.3%) than in the other groups (42.9% in RCT group and 28.1% in control group). The sperm progressive motility and vitality in RT carriers (21.53% and 62.17%) were lower than in control group (39.77% and 77.47%, p < 0.001, respectively) and RCT carriers (31.47% and 76.17%, p < 0.001, respectively). The RCT carriers and the control group did not differ in regard to sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, motility grade D and sperm vitality. There were no significant differences in DNA fragmentation in carriers of both studied structural chro­mosomal rearrangements in comparison to subjects with normal karyotype. CONCLUSIONS RT carriers had significantly lower semen parameters in comparison to not only the subjects with normal karyotypes but also the RCT carriers.