The normality of sperm in an infertile man with ring chromosome 15: a case report.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to analyze the chromosome status and fertilization capability of sperm obtained from an infertile male patient with ring chromosome 15.

METHODS: This was a case report at a private in vitro fertilization clinic. A man diagnosed with severe oligozoospermia carrying ring chromosome 15. To evaluate the chromosome status and fertilization capability, sperm from a patient carrying ring chromosome 15 were injected into enucleated mouse oocytes.

RESULTS: The karyotypes of motile sperm from a patient carrying ring chromosome 15 were normal, and ring chromosome 15 was not observed in the chromosome spread samples of 1PN. In addition, these motile sperm retained the fertilization capability. However, the fertilization rates decreased (85.2, 76.2, and 64.3%, respectively) along with the decline of the aspect ratio of the sperm head (≥ 1.50, 1.30-1.49, and < 1.30, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The karyotypes were normal without ring chromosome 15, and motile sperm with a high aspect ratio showed adequate potential for fertilization.