Pericentric inversion of chromosome 6 and male fertility problems

Abstract

As a significant chromosomal structural abnormality, chromosomal inversion is closely related to male infertility. For inversion carriers, the interchromosomal effect explains male infertility, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. Additionally, inversion carriers with different chromosomes have different clinical manifestations. Therefore, genetic counseling is difficult in clinical practice. Herein, four male carriers of pericentric inversion in chromosome 6 have been described. Two patients showed asthenospermia, one showed azoospermia, and the wife of the remaining patient had recurrent miscarriages. Through a literature search, the association between the breakpoint of pericentric inversion in chromosome 6 and male fertility problems are also discussed in this study. Overall, important genes related to asthenospermia in chromosome 6p21 were found, which may be related to the clinical phenotype. These results suggest that physicians should focus on the breakpoints of inversion in genetic counseling.

Keywords

• male infertility
• pericentric inversion
• chromosome 6
• genetic counseling