High frequency of satellite association in metaphases of infertile male patients

OBJECTIVE: The present study is designed to evaluate the contribution of satellite association phenomenon on spermatogenic impairment.

METHODS: During a one year period, January 1999 through to January 2000, the frequency of satellite association has been investigated in 57 patients, with the clinical diagnosis of male infertility. This study was carried out at the Middle Euphrates Center for Cancer Researches, College of Medicine, Kufa University, Kufa, Iraq. Of those 57 patients, 33 patients were diagnozed with azoospermia and 24 patients with oligospermia, the efficacy evaluation was based on the measurement of 8 satellite association parameters. Blood culture and chromosome harvesting was carried out according to our standard methods.

RESULTS: Our experience of association behavior of acrocentric chromosome in the 57 infertile males showed statistically significant difference in infertile male classes compared to control groups. Eight studied parameters were included in the evaluation (P<0.005).

CONCLUSION: The significant increase in the satellite association is proposed to have another indirect causal factor, which influenced spermatogenesis. Furthermore, the satellite association technique may be used as a laboratory method for the evaluation of male infertility.