The association between sperm aneuploidy and male infertility: Screening, aetiology and possible routes to alternative therapy

Abstract

One in six couples wishing to start a family are infertile. The many causes of infertility include genetic defects that can be single gene, multifactorial or chromosomal (including Y deletions, karyotype abnormalities and gamete aneuploidy). This thesis is concerned with the association between infertility and increased sperm aneuploidy. Specific questions are: should males be screened for sperm aneuploidy before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? Is there a relationship between individual semen parameters and sperm aneuploidy for specific chromosome pairs? What is the role of genome organisation in male gametes and its association with infertility? Whether use of alternative therapy (in this case, traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)) can be used to improve sperm disomy levels. Statistical analysis of questionnaire data revealed that infertility specialists believed there to be merit in screening sperm aneuploidy levels before ICSI. Evidence is presented for possible chromosome-specific and semen parameter specific mechanisms for sperm aneuploidy as is evidence of genome organisation that may be perturbed in infertile males. Finally, in six males studied, sperm aneuploidy levels improved significantly coincident with TCM. Closer investigation of the biological activity of individual therapeutic herbs and treatment cocktails revealed strong anti-oestrogenic and anti-oxidant properties. This suggests a possible mechanism of action of the herbs and provides the basis from which future placebo controlled clinical trials might continue. Possible criticisms of the work presented here include the unavailability of blood samples from many of the patients (thus preventing karyotype analysis) and the absence of a second control group in our studies on semen parameters. Nevertheless significant steps have been made towards establishing the need for, and the implementation of, a pre-ICSI screening test. Moreover progress has been made towards further understanding the aetiology of sperm aneuploidy and towards the implementation of a new treatment that may, ultimately, augment, or even replace ICSI.