Analyses of meiotic chromosomes in testicular biopsies of infertile patients

Between 1989 and 1992 meiotic chromosome studies and synaptonemal complexanalyses were evaluated using light and, in part, electron microscopy in 46infertile males with highly abnormal spermiograms. This examination focusedon whether the breakdown of spermatogenesis could be attributed to pairinganomalies of bivalents. The study of meiotic chromosomes and synaptonemalcomplexes indicated normal spermatogenesis in five patients (11%); in theremainder, maturation arrest was diagnosed. In 21 individuals (50%) thebreakdown was accompanied by pairing anomalies (asynapsis, fragmentedsynaptonemal complexes, X/Y univalence). Thus it is shown that maleinfertility can often partly be explained by meiotic disorders.