Detection of genetic damage in human sperm

Assessment of genetic damage in human sperm is now possible using the hamster oocyte/human sperm fusion technique. This cross-species in vitro assay provides precise human sperm karyotypes that can be banded for identification of individual chromosomes and numeric and structural abnormalities. This technique is time-consuming and difficult but there are now 11 laboratories in 7 different countries reporting results on normal men and men at increased risk of sperm chromosomal abnormalities. Men who have been exposed to radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been shown to have an increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm. A few laboratories have reported results on the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of interphase sperm nuclei. This appears to be a promising new technique for the assessment of aneuploidy and FISH results from our laboratory correlate well with our frequency of aneuploidy determined by sperm chromosome analysis. Thus it is possible that, in the future, FISH might be used as a simple rapid screen of potentially aneugenic agents.