Centromere-specific multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization on human spermatocyte i and II metaphases

Abstract

BACKGROUNDMost meiotic studies in metaphase spermatocytes have been carried out with classic cytogenetic techniques. The aim of this work was to adjust the centromere-specific multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (cenM-FISH) procedure to spermatocyte metaphases I and II in order to improve the identification of meiotic chromosome abnormalities.METHODSA total of 168 spermatocytes I and 66 spermatocytes II from two fertile males have been studied using cenM-FISH.RESULTSThe mean frequency of meiotic abnormalities (synaptic, numerical and structural errors) found in metaphases I and II was 22.1 and 3.0, respectively. The cenM-FISH technique has not only enabled the individual identification of chromosomes involved in meiotic disorders, but also increased the number of analysable cells, principally at metaphase II stage. CONCLUSIONSCenM-FISH is a useful tool to study the meiotic chromosomal disorders and mechanisms leading to chromosomally abnormal spermatozoa.