Incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in children whose fathers underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with epididymal sperm aspiration: a case-control study.

Milton Ghirelli-Filho,Viviane Cavalcanti,Caio Parente Barbosa,Bianca Bianco,Sidney Glina,Denise Maria Christofolini,Fernanda Abani Mafra,Patricia Leme De Marchi

doi:10.1590/s1679-45082016ao3805

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective To evaluate the incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in individuals born from vasectomized fathers who underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with sperm retrieval by epididymal aspiration (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration).Methods A case-control study comprising male children of couples in which the man had been previously vasectomized and chose vasectomy reversal (n=31) or in vitro fertilization with sperm retrieval by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (n=30) to conceive new children, and a Control Group of male children of fertile men who had programmed vasectomies (n=60). Y-chromosome microdeletions research was performed by polymerase chain reaction on fathers and children, evaluating 20 regions of the chromosome.Results The results showed no Y-chromosome microdeletions in any of the studied subjects. The incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in individuals born from vasectomized fathers who underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with spermatozoa recovered by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration did not differ between the groups, and there was no difference between control subjects born from natural pregnancies or population incidence in fertile men.Conclusion We found no association considering microdeletions in the azoospermia factor region of the Y chromosome and assisted reproduction. We also found no correlation between these Y-chromosome microdeletions and vasectomies, which suggests that the assisted reproduction techniques do not increase the incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions.

Highlights

Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are currently available worldwide and are successfully practiced on a large scale
Among the factors that may cause male infertility and lead to indication of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are genetic anomalies, such as chromosomal aberrations, which are found in 5 to 15% of infertile men (5 to 7% in oligozoospermic and 10 to 15% in azoospermic men), and Y-chromosome microdeletions (YCM), which is one of the causes of severe testiculopathy, present in 2% of infertile men.[2]. Another important factor that leads to male infertility and indicates IVF is the obstructive azoospermia secondary to vasectomy, which represents a particular problem regarding possible defects associated with IVF implementation, since the consequences of obstruction on spermatogenesis are not yet completely known
The YCM incidence in individuals born from vasectomized fathers who underwent vasectomy reversal, or IVF with spermatozoa retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), did not differ between the groups, and it was not different from control individuals, born from natural pregnancies or from population incidence in fertile men

Summary

Introduction

Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) are currently available worldwide and are successfully practiced on a large scale. Fertility recovery after a vasectomy is desired by 2 to 10% of men, and two methods are used for this purpose: vasectomy reversal or IVF with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA).(3,4) Vasectomy reversal has established itself as a very effective method for obtaining fertility after the procedure, and it was the only treatment option for vasectomized patients until the development of IVF using ICSI.[4]. Since both methods are available for any vasectomized individual, and the success rates of each method depend on many variables. The vast majority of these microdeletions appear in de novo mutation, indicating that this region is unstable.[13,14]

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Results

Conclusion