Chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men from Morocco

Male infertility is responsible for 50% of infertile couples. Thirty percent of male infertility is due to cytogenetic and genetic abnormalities. In Arab and North African populations, several studies have shown the association of these chromosomal abnormalities with male infertility. Our objective is to evaluate the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men from Morocco.

A total of 573 Moroccan infertile men (444 azoospermic and 129 oligozoospermic men) referred for cytogenetic analysis to the Department of Cytogenetics of the Pasteur Institute of Morocco, were screened for the presence of chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions.

Chromosomal abnormalities accounted for approximately 10.5% (60/573). Fifty six cases among them have sex chromosome abnormalities (93.34%), including Klinefelter's syndrome in 41 patients (68.34%). Autosomal chromosome abnormalities (6.66%) were observed in 4 patients. Chromosomal abnormalities were more prevalent in azoospermic men (13.06%) than in oligospermic men (1.55%). Y microdeletions were detected in 16 of 85 patients (AZFc: 14.12%, AZFbc: 4.70%), most of them where azoospermic men with no chromosomal abnormality.

These results highlighted the need for efficient molecular genetic testing in male infertility diagnosis. In addition, a genetic screening should be performed in infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.