Robertsonian translocations are the most frequent structural chromosomal abnormalities in humans and can affect fertility, with various degrees of sperm alterations in men; or the pregnancy outcome of the carriers. The studies on meiotic segregation of chromosomes in sperm of Robertsonian translocation males find a majority of normal or balanced spermatozoa for the chromosomes related to the translocation (mean 85.42%; range 60–96.60%). Furthermore, recent studies suggest an interchromosomal effect. Studies on spermatozoa from translocation carriers, and in mouse models help the comprehension of the meiotic segregation mechanisms. Results of meiotic segregation analysis in man could be integrated in genetic counselling especially when assisted reproductive technology is required.

BACKGROUND:The hypothetical responsibility of sperm donation in cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to recipients and precautions to prevent this transmission are widely discussed. The aim of this French CECOS Federation study was to evaluate both the reality and the importance of the CMV risk due to donor sperm and the relevance of measures used to screen it.METHODS:We conducted a prospective multicentric study. CMV was detected by rapid and conventional cultures and by PCR in the frozen sperm of donors who met the normal criteria required of semen donors, irrespective of their CMV serological status.RESULTS:635 samples from 231 donors (39.4% IgG(+)) were obtained and tested by culture; 551 samples from 197 donors were also tested by PCR. From those samples, 0.78% were culture(+), 1.57% culture(+) and/or PCR(+); 3.3% of seropositive donors and 0.72% of initially seronegative donors were culture(+), but in the latter seroconversion occurred during the quarantine period; of the 197 PCR-tested donors, 3.5% (6.2/1.7) were PCR(+), 3.3% (5.3/1.45) culture(+) and/or PCR(+). PCR(+) samples can be culture(-) and vice versa. The most strongly positive sample corresponded to an initially seronegative donor.CONCLUSION:The best strategy to prevent potential CMV risk is to test donors for CMV IgG and IgM antibody at the outset and after a 6 month period of quarantine and to reject initially IgM seropositive donors or donors who seroconvert during the quarantine period.

Lack of data on the genotype-phenotype relationship in cases of AZF microdeletions is due to the limited number of histological investigations in human male infertility cases. We investigated the possibility of retrospective detection of Yq11 microdeletions by using DNA extracted from diagnostic testicular biopsies. We used histological criteria to select two series of material: 22 biopsies with Sertoli cell-only syndrome and 14 biopsies with maturation arrest at the spermatocyte I stage. Two markers, DFFRY and DAZ, were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the two series. In the Sertoli cell-only syndrome series, we found four deletions affecting the DFFRY gene (18.2%). In the second series, no deletions were detected. Two conclusions may be considered, although the number of specimens analysed is limited: (i) the frequency of deletions observed in Sertoli cell-only syndrome allows us to suggest that deletion in the AZFa region may be involved in this pathology; and (ii) retrospective studies may yield some additional elements in our search for eventual genotype-phenotype relationships.

Objective: To evaluate the importance of interindividual variations in the disomy frequencies of human sperm and their possible correlation with the principal semen parameters. Design: Prospective randomized analysis of sperm nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybridization and analysis of semen parameters. Setting: University-based laboratory for reproductive biology. Patient(s): Fifty-seven human ejaculates selected at random from a population of men undergoing semen analysis. Intervention(s): Semen specimens were analyzed, and sperm samples were prepared for fluorescence in situ hybridization. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters, including necrozoospermia, global motility, sperm concentration, multiple abnormalities index, and teratozoospermia were evaluated, aniline blue staining was completed, and disomy frequencies for chromosomes 8, 15, 18, X, and Y were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Result(s): Noticeable differences in disomy frequencies between individuals were observed, and these frequencies were correlated with the degree of nuclear maturity. Conclusion(s): We hypothesize that the positive correlation can be explained by an abnormality of chromosomal segregation at the time of meiosis that would cause disturbances during the transition of nucleoprotein or by one or several premeiotic abnormalities of chromatin that would perturb both the meiotic process and the construction of definitive proteins.

Objective: To estimate the mean frequency of aneuploidy levels of chromosomes 8, 15, 18, X, and Y in human sperm, while minimizing the effect of individual factors by analyzing sperm samples from a large set of patients.Design: Prospective randomized analysis of sperm nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybridization.Setting: University-based laboratory for reproductive biology.Patient(s): One hundred two patients with a large distribution of sperm parameters, randomly selected from volunteers who had presented seeking a semen analysis.Intervention(s): The sperm samples were prepared for fluorescence in situ hybridization.Main Outcome Measure(s): The disomy frequencies for chromosomes 8, 15, 18, and sex chromosomes were determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization.Result(s): The mean frequencies of disomy for autosomes were 0.18% for chromosome 8, 0.06% for chromosome 15, 0.2% for chromosome 18, and 0.24% for gonosomes (XX, 0.04%; YY, 0.05%; XY, 0.15%).Conclusion(s): This study confirms other previous evaluations on restricted numbers of patients. Our results seem to confirm a relative equiprobability of disomy frequencies concerning the different chromosomal pairs during male meiosis. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

The sex chromosomes in spermatozoa of a 47,XYY fertile male were analysed simultaneously by dual fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), with two probes (pHY2.1 and pXBR). Of the 100000 cells analysed, 95179 spermatozoa (95.18%) exhibited one or more hybridization signals. Of the hybridized nuclei, 85.37% showed a normal sex chromosome constitution (37.37% X-bearing cells and 48.00% Y-bearing cells), with an X:Y ratio of 0.78:1. A total of 14.63% of the hybridized nuclei exhibited sex chromosome aneuploidy with a majority of XY- and YY-bearing spermatozoa (9.37 and 4.65% respectively). Even if the majority of spermatozoa have chromosomal haploidy, a large proportion of them exhibits numerical errors for the sex chromosomes. These observations raise questions about the commonly-admitted notions concerning the absence of chromosomal risk for XYY male offspring.

Incorporation of A23187 ionophore into the human—hamster fertilization system clearly improves the ability of human spermatozoa to penetrate zona-free hamster oocytes. Thus, an increasing number of laboratories working in human sperm cytogenetics have substituted classical incubation with Biggers—Whitten-Whittingham (BWW) medium plus human serum albumin (HSA) by pretreatment of spermatozoa with calcium ionophore A23187 which directly induces the acrosome reaction in spermatozoa. However, there have been no formal studies on the effects of this ionophore pretreatment. To determine whether calcium ionophore could affect the cytogenetic characteristics of human spermatozoa we compared A23187-treated spermatozoa with controls (only incubated with BWW + HSA) by analysing a total of 447 sperm chromosome complements from two normal donors. Our results show that there are no statistical differences in the frequency and the types of human sperm chromosomal abnormalities between the two methods of sperm treatment. Thus, ionophore A23187 seems not to affect the cytogenetic characteristics of human spermatozoa, and the results of laboratories using either sperm capacitation in BWW + HSA or acrosome reaction by calcium ionophore can be compared.

A total of 304 human pronuclear zygotes and cleaved embryos from the 2- to 9-cell stages, obtained during invitro fertilization attempts, were photographed and retrospectively analysed after transfer for their morphology and size in relation to their developmental stage, using the Imagenia programme of a Biocom 500 image analyser. Morphometric parameters were calculated from the perimeters, surface measurements, theoretical diameters and circularity factors for the different structures analysed. This report provides the morphometric characteristics of living embryos. For the whole population the mean values were: 157.4 microns for the external zona pellucida diameter, 121.8 microns for the internal zona pellucida diameter, 17.9 microns for the thickness of the zona pellucida and 117.2 microns for the embryo cell mass diameter. The morphometric characteristics of the pronuclear-stage population were significantly different from the cleaved cell stages. If the zona pellucida and cell mass embryo diameters increased slowly from the 2- to 9-cell stages, embryonic external diameters were higher and zona pellucida thicknesses were lower in odd than even number blastomere embryos. Preliminary results show that in cases where implantation occurs, the embryo has a lower zona pellucida thickness. A comparison of the different embryo cell stages confirmed the existence of an asynchronous division process during early embryo development. Global results show no evidence of morphometric differences between subpopulations of the embryos according to their microscopic grading. Deviations from the normal asynchronous division process, however, appear to be a new parameter to take into account during embryo scoring.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Secretogranin-II (SgII) is a protein contained within secretory granules of mainly gonadotrophs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether SgII immunoreactivity (SgII-IR) in the human fetal pituitary was temporally related to gonadotropin immunoreactivity. A specific antihuman SgII antiserum was thus required. A complementary DNA clone with an open reading frame for human (h) SgII was synthesized by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from pituitary total RNA. This clone was used to obtain the SgII polypeptide (-9 to 152) as a fusion protein, in a heterologous expression prokaryotic system. Antisera against the fusion protein were raised in rabbits and checked for specificity and sensitivity through Western blotting. Human fetal pituitaries from week 6 of gestation onward were used for immunocytochemical studies. Consecutive semithin sections were treated with the specific antisera against hSgII, beta-endorphin, and hPRL and with monoclonal antibodies to hCG alpha, hLH, and hFSH. SgII immunoreactivity appeared at week 8 and was restricted to pituitary cells expressing beta-endorphin (100% colocalization). At week 9, FSH-positive cells did not contain SgII. From week 10, gonadotrophs progressively exhibited SgII-IR, up to 50% of that in FSH-containing cells at week 26. The granin was never found in PRL cells whatever the stage of development. The present data demonstrate that SgII-IR is detected very early in fetal life; however, the positive cells are not gonadotrophs, but corticotrophs. Within gonadotrophs, SgII appears subsequent to hormones. At birth, more than 90% of SgII-IR cells are represented by corticotrophs and gonadotrophs.

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 680, Issue 1 p. 511-516 Morphofunctional Studies on the Neurons Producing Melanin-Concentrating Hormone D. FELLMANN, D. FELLMANN Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorP. Y. RISOLD, P. Y. RISOLD Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorM. BAHJAOUI, M. BAHJAOUI Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorN. COMPAGNONE, N. COMPAGNONE Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJ. L. BRESSON, J. L. BRESSON Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. CLAVEQUIN, M. C. CLAVEQUIN Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJ. CARDOT, J. CARDOT Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorA. GOUGET, A. GOUGET Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorD. LENYS, D. LENYS Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorC. BUGNON, C. BUGNON Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this author D. FELLMANN, D. FELLMANN Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorP. Y. RISOLD, P. Y. RISOLD Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorM. BAHJAOUI, M. BAHJAOUI Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorN. COMPAGNONE, N. COMPAGNONE Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJ. L. BRESSON, J. L. BRESSON Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorM. C. CLAVEQUIN, M. C. CLAVEQUIN Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJ. CARDOT, J. CARDOT Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorA. GOUGET, A. GOUGET Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorD. LENYS, D. LENYS Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorC. BUGNON, C. BUGNON Laboratoire d'Histologie CNRS URA 561 Faculté de Médecine 25030 Besancon Cedex, FranceSearch for more papers by this author First published: May 1993 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1993.tb19724.xCitations: 15AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume680, Issue1The Melanotropic PeptidesMay 1993Pages 511-516 RelatedInformation

Biology of the CellVolume 75, Issue 3 p. 266-266 Alterations Ultrastructurales Identiques Des Flagelles Des Spermatozoides De Trois Freres Steriles M.-C Clavequin, M.-C Clavequin CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorD Lenys, D Lenys CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorJ.-L Bresson, J.-L Bresson CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorC Roux, C Roux CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this author M.-C Clavequin, M.-C Clavequin CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorD Lenys, D Lenys CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorJ.-L Bresson, J.-L Bresson CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this authorC Roux, C Roux CECOS BESANCON, Laboratoire de Cytologie-Génétique, place St Jacques, 25000 BesançonSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1992 https://doi.org/10.1016/0248-4900(92)90181-YAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume75, Issue31992Pages 266-266 RelatedInformation

An antiserum raised against synthetic salmon melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) reveals an extensive neuronal system in the posterior lateral areas of the human hypothalamus. These neurons correspond to those previously described in the rat, which are characterized by expression of MCH-like, α-melanotropin-like and human growth hormone-releasing factor (1–37)-like immunoreactivities.

Development of the paraventriculo-infundibular corticoliberin system was studied by immunocytochemical analysis of human hypothalamic sections using antisera raised against rat or ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). This comparative study confirms the presence of a significant number of CRF-immunoreactive fibers in the median eminence during the 16th week of fetal development and suggests they may appear as early as the 14th week. Some hypothalamic peri- and paraventricular neurons, observed from the 12th week, are rat-CRF-immunoreactive but not ovine CRF-immunoreactive. There appears to be chronological differences concerning the ability of the two antisera to recognize hypothalamic structures during the early stage of development.

Human posterolateral hypothalamic neurons are revealed with an anti GRF 37 serum as soon as the 7th week of fetal life. The same neuronal population can be observed in the adult brain even in hypothalami from old subjects, with the same distribution, and similar immunoreactivity than in fetal stages. These neurons are revealed using a melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) antiserum; the MCH immunoreactivity appears at the same stage of fetal development than GRF 37 immunoreactivity. The two antisera recognize two epitopes on one or two molecules. Those new facts agree with an hypothesis about the very important and permanent functional role of that new human hypothalamic interneuronal system.

Immunohistochemistry makes possible the in situ detection of neuropeptides in the cell bodies were they are synthesized, in the fibers that carry them, and in endings. Immunohistochemistry appears necessary to identify and map peptidergic neurons and to study their ontogeny. From 1975, we have carried the immunohistochemical study of several hypothalamic neuronal populations in the human fetus: LH-RH (1976), somatostatin (1977), pro-opiocortin (1978), vasopressin and oxytocin (1979), corticoliberin (1982), somatocrinin (1983), and hypothalamic neurons containing an unidentified peptide (1984). Comparative ontogenetical studies have also been performed in rats.