STUDY QUESTION: How has the interface between genetics and assisted reproduction technology (ART) evolved since 2005? SUMMARY ANSWER: The interface between ART and genetics has become more entwined as we increase our understanding about the genetics of infertility and we are able to perform more comprehensive genetic testing. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and ART and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: An interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies and experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: In March 2012, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and the EuroGentest2 Coordination Action Project met to discuss developments at the interface between clinical genetics and ART. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: As more genetic causes of reproductive failure are now recognized and an increasing number of patients undergo testing of their genome prior to conception, either in regular health care or in the context of direct-to-consumer testing, the need for genetic counselling and PGD may increase. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) thus far does not have evidence from RCTs to substantiate that the technique is both effective and efficient. Whole genome sequencing may create greater challenges both in the technological and interpretational domains, and requires further reflection about the ethics of genetic testing in ART and PGD/PGS. Diagnostic laboratories should be reporting their results according to internationally accepted accreditation standards (ISO 15189). Further studies are needed in order to address issues related to the impact of ART on epigenetic reprogramming of the early embryo. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The legal landscape regarding assisted reproduction is evolving, but still remains very heterogeneous and often contradictory. The lack of legal harmonization and uneven access to infertility treatment and PGD/PGS fosters considerable cross-border reproductive care in Europe, and beyond. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This continually evolving field requires communication between the clinical genetics and IVF teams and patients to ensure that they are fully informed and can make well-considered choices. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Funding was received from ESHRE, ESHG and EuroGentest2 European Union Coordination Action project (FP7 - HEALTH-F4-2010-26146) to support attendance at this meeting.

• Klíčová slova
• European Society of Human Genetics, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, IVF, assisted reproduction technology, reproductive genetics,
• MeSH
• akreditace MeSH
• asistovaná reprodukce škodlivé účinky   etika   zákonodárství a právo   trendy   MeSH
• dostupnost zdravotnických služeb MeSH
• embryonální kmenové buňky MeSH
• epigenomika MeSH
• lékařská genetika etika   zákonodárství a právo   trendy   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužská infertilita genetika   MeSH
• nestabilita genomu MeSH
• preimplantační diagnóza etika   trendy   MeSH
• reprodukční lékařství etika   zákonodárství a právo   trendy   MeSH
• společnosti lékařské MeSH
• zdravotní turistika trendy   MeSH
• ženská infertilita genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

BACKGROUND: The Y chromosome microdeletions belong to the frequent genetical causes of male infertility. The aim of our study was to introduce reliable molecular genetic diagnosis of Y chromosomal microdeletions and to determine the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Czech males with serious reproductive disorders. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Y chromosome microdeletions were screened in 198 Czech men with serious reproductive disorders with decreased sperm count. The Y chromosome microdeletions were disclosed in 8/198 (4.0%) examined males. The AZFc deletion type was revealed in 62.5% (5/8) and the combined AZFc + b microdeletion in 37.5% (3/8) of cases. Neither isolated AZFb nor AZFa microdeletion were found in any subject of the investigated group. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of individual types of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Czech males with serious reproductive disorders was assessed. The standardised molecular genetic diagnosis of Y chromosomal microdeletions was introduced into the practice.

• MeSH
• delece genu * MeSH
• genetické lokusy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidský chromozom Y genetika   MeSH
• mužská infertilita genetika   MeSH
• oligospermie genetika   MeSH
• proteiny semenné plazmy genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny semenné plazmy MeSH

INTRODUCTION: The presence of components of the renin angiotensin system and tumour necrosis factor in a male reproductive tract supports the hypothesis that these substances may influence reproductive functions. It was proved that angiotensin II as a product of ACE has influence on sperm capacitation and motility. TNF-beta is released from T-lymphocytes and has the regulatory effect on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Aberrations of these agents can result in infertility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the allele frequency of ACE and TNF-beta genes in men with pathological sperm count and men with normal fertility. We examined the insertion/deletion (I/D) ACE and B1/B2 TNF-beta gene polymorphic alleles and analyzed their frequency in patients and fertile men. DESIGN: A pilot study. SETTING: 1st Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Institute of Pathologic Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, CR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes by a standard method according to Sambrook in a group of 46 patients (33.4 +/- 7.2 years) with pathological sperm count (9 azoospermia, 21 severe oligoasthenospermia, 16 moderate oligoasthenospermia) and in a control group of 88 healthy men (31.2 +/- 9.3 years) with normal fertility. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for genom analysis. The method according to Rigat was used for the I/D ACE polymorphism. B1/B2 TNF-beta genotype of each patient was determined after Nco I digestion of the amplified product and subsequent agrose gel electrophoresis. Fisher's exact test and chi square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the study we found these differences of allel frequency and their combination: 1. Combinations of the genotype II (ACE) + B1B2 (TNF-beta) and genotype II (ACE) + B2B2 (TNF-beta) were less frequent in patients (8.7%) than in fertile men (28.4%), this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.021). 2. Allele B1 (TNF-beta) was more frequent among patients (40.2%) than in the control group (29.5%), this difference was near to the point of statistical significance (p = 0.05). 3. Allele D (ACE) frequency was higher in men with pathological sperm count (52.2%) than in fertile men (44.9%), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.15). CONCLUSION: The study has found different allele frequency of I/D ACE and B1/B2 TNF-beta genes polymorphism in men with pathological sperm count compared to men with normal fertility. These results could contribute to elucidate the genetic background of a male infertility.

• MeSH
• angiotensin konvertující enzym genetika   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• frekvence genu MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfotoxin-alfa genetika   MeSH
• oligospermie genetika   MeSH
• pilotní projekty MeSH
• polymorfismus genetický * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• angiotensin konvertující enzym MeSH
• lymfotoxin-alfa MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Study on Y chromosomal AZF region deletions in Slovak population, application of DNA technique. DESIGN: Genetic-prospective study. SETTING: Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava. METHODS: For detecting microdeletions in the Y-chromosomal AZF region in men with fertility disorders and for identifying Y-specific sequences we used the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with using three different sets of sY sequences. For a verification of the specific type of deletion we used also fluorescently labeled kit. RESULTS: Diagnoses of referred patients were divided into 2 groups: azoospermia, oligospermia. In the followed-up group of 822 patients there were 349 patients with azoospermia, 473 patients with oligospermia. Globally we reported 38 cases of deletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome, i.e. 4.62%. 24 patients with deletion are from the group of patients with azoospermia, i.e. 6.88%, 14 patients are from the group of patients with oligospermia (2.95%). Considering particular types of deletions we recorded deletions in each region, AZFa, AZFb and AZFc, combinated AZFbc deletion, but also a complete deletion of the whole AZF region. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that detection of microdeletions of the AZF region is significant from diagnostic and prognostic view and it pointed out the importance of selection criteria for selecting patients.

• MeSH
• azoospermie genetika   MeSH
• chromozomální delece * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• genetické lokusy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidský chromozom Y genetika   MeSH
• mužská infertilita genetika   MeSH
• oligospermie genetika   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• proteiny semenné plazmy genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny semenné plazmy MeSH

AIMS: The Y chromosome accumulates male-related genes including sex-determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) and several spermatogenesis-related genes. The long arm contains azoospermia factor (AZF) region (including sub-regions AZFa, AZFb and AZFc). Microdeletions in this region are responsible for azoospermia and oligospermia and result in the male infertility. The aim of this study was to analyze incidence of microdeletions in the AZF region of Y chromosome in patients with azoospermia from Slovakia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over the period from 2005 to 2009 a total of 239 men (mean age 31.74 years) were analyzed. The diagnosis of azoospermia was established on the basis of semen analysis. All patient samples were analyzed cytogenetically. Chromosomal analysis was performed on all patients on cultured lymphocytes from peripheral blood. For exact diagnosis of microdeletions in AZF region we used a PCR-method using a set of sequence-tagged sites from all AZF sub-regions (according to the recommendation by the European Academy of Andrology and the European Quality Monitoring Network Group). RESULTS: Among our 226 patients with azoospermia and with normal karyotype, 8 patients (mean age 30.6 years) had microdeletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome (3.35%). Considering particular types of deletions we determined deletions in each region AZFa,b,c but also a complete deletion of the entire AZF region. The presence of microdeletion(s) in the AZFc region was the most frequent. In our study we found 12 patients (5%) with 47,XXY karyotype (Klinefelter syndrome), but these patients didn't have microdeletion of Y chromosomes. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that percentage of microdeletions in the AZF region is low in Slovak azoospermic patients, but important from a prognostic view.

• MeSH
• azoospermie genetika   MeSH
• chromozomální delece * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• genetické lokusy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidský chromozom Y genetika   MeSH
• proteiny semenné plazmy genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny semenné plazmy MeSH

PURPOSE: To analyse relationships between semen parameters, sperm chromatin integrity and frequencies of chromosomally unbalanced, disomic and diploid sperm in 13 Robertsonian and 37 reciprocal translocation carriers and to compare the results with data from 10 control donors. METHODS: Conventional semen analysis, Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay and FISH with probes for chromosomes involved in the individual translocations and for chromosomes X, Y, 7, 8, 13, 18 and 21. RESULTS: Normal semen parameters were found in 30.8 % of Robertsonian and 59.5 % of reciprocal translocation carriers. The rates of unbalanced sperm were 12.0 % in Robertsonian and 55.1 % in reciprocal translocation carriers with no difference between normospermic patients and those showing altered semen parameters. Significantly increased frequencies of spermatozoa showing defects in chromatin integrity and condensation, aneuploidy for chromosomes not involved in a translocation and diploidy were detected in translocation carriers with abnormal semen parameters. Normospermic reciprocal translocation carriers showed an increase in chromosome 13 disomy compared to the control group. There was no relationship between gametic and somatic aneuploidy in 12 translocation carriers studied by FISH on sperm and lymphocytes. The frequency of motile sperm was negatively correlated with the frequency of sperm showing disomy, diploidy and defective chromatin condensation. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal semen parameters can serve as indicators of an additional risk of forming spermatozoa with defective chromatin and aneuploidy in translocation carriers.

• MeSH
• analýza spermatu MeSH
• aneuploidie MeSH
• chromatin genetika   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• heterozygot MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• karyotypizace MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidské chromozomy X MeSH
• lidské chromozomy, pár 13 MeSH
• lidské chromozomy, pár 18 MeSH
• lidský chromozom Y MeSH
• mužská infertilita genetika   MeSH
• segregace chromozomů MeSH
• sperma cytologie   MeSH
• spermie cytologie   MeSH
• translokace genetická genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin MeSH

Complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCR) represent rare structural chromosome abnormalities frequently associated with infertility. In this study, meiotic segregation in spermatozoa of an infertile normospermic carrier of a 4-breakpoint t(1;3;6) CCR was analysed. A newly developed array comparative genomic hybridization protocol was used, and all chromosomes in 50 single sperm cells were simultaneously examined. Three-colour FISH was used to analyse chromosome segregation in 1557 other single sperm cells. It was also used to measure an interchromosomal effect; sperm chromatin structure assay was used to measure chromatin integrity. A high-frequency of unbalanced spermatozoa (84%) was observed, mostly arising from the 3:3 symmetrical segregation mode. Array comparative genomic hybridization was used to detect additional aneuploidies in two out of 50 spermatozoa (4%) in chromosomes not involved in the complex chromosome rearrangement. Significantly increased rates of diploidy and XY disomy were found in the CCR carrier compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Defective condensation of sperm chromatin was also found in 22.7% of spermatozoa by sperm chromatin structure assay. The results indicate that the infertility in the man with CCR and normal spermatozoa was caused by a production of chromosomally unbalanced, XY disomic and diploid spermatozoa and spermatozoa with defective chromatin condensation.

• Klíčová slova
• array CGH, complex chromosome rearrangement, interchromosomal effect, male infertility, meiotic segregation, sperm aneuploidy,
• MeSH
• analýza jednotlivých buněk MeSH
• body zlomu chromozomu * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• genová přestavba * MeSH
• heterozygot MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužská infertilita etiologie   MeSH
• poruchy sexuálního vývoje s karyotypem 46, XY diagnóza   genetika   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• profáze meiózy I MeSH
• segregace chromozomů * MeSH
• spermie patologie   MeSH
• srovnávací genomová hybridizace MeSH
• translokace genetická * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Toxoplasma gondii is a common protozoan parasite that infects warm-blooded animals throughout the world, including mice and humans. During infection, both, the parasite and the host, utilize various mechanisms to maximize their own reproductive success. Mice and humans are both the intermediate hosts for Toxoplasma gondii, which forms specialized vacuoles containing reproductive cysts in the formers' tissue. As half of the human population is infected, developing a disease called toxoplasmosis, along with an ever-growing number of couples suffering with idiopathic infertility, it is therefore surprising that there is a lack of research on how Toxoplasma gondii can alter reproductive parameters. In this study, a detailed histometric screening of the testicular function along with the levels of the pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) were analysed in infected mice. Data on relative testis and epididymis weight, and sperm count were also collected. Based on the results obtained, the level of LH in the urine of Toxoplasma gondii infected mice was lower compared to the control. In direct correlation with the hormone level, testicular function and sperm production was also significantly lower in Toxoplasma gondii positive group using sperm count and histometric analysis as a marker. Not only were the number of leptotene primary spermatocytes and spermatids lowered, but the number of Sertoli cells and the tubule diameter were elevated. In parallel, a pilot epigenetic study on global testicular methylation, and specific methylation of Crem, Creb1 and Hspa1genes essential for successfully ongoing spermatogenesis was performed. Global methylation was elevated in Toxoplasma infected mice, and differences in the DNA methylation of selected genes were detected between the Toxoplasma positive and control group. These findings demonstrate a direct relation between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the decrease of male reproductive fitness in mice, which may contribute to an increase of idiopathic infertility in humans.

• MeSH
• CpG ostrůvky MeSH
• epididymis metabolismus   parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• epigeneze genetická MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• genetická zdatnost genetika   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• luteinizační hormon genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• metylace DNA MeSH
• modulátor elementu responzivního pro cyklický AMP genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oligospermie MeSH
• protein vázající cAMP responzivní element genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny tepelného šoku HSP70 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• semenotvorné kanálky metabolismus   parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• Sertoliho buňky metabolismus   parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• spermie metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• Toxoplasma patogenita   fyziologie   MeSH
• toxoplazmóza zvířat genetika   metabolismus   parazitologie   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Creb1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• Crem protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• luteinizační hormon MeSH
• modulátor elementu responzivního pro cyklický AMP MeSH
• protein vázající cAMP responzivní element MeSH
• proteiny tepelného šoku HSP70 MeSH

Damage to the genetic component of spermatozoa seems to play the main role in a majority of cases where current approaches fail to reveal the specific cause of male infertility. In this study, we compared semen quality in men assigned to two defined groups: men from couples with unexplained infertility - idiopathic infertility (A) and young men with no experiences of infertility (B). All samples were examined by standard ejaculate analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Sperm chromatin damage was significantly higher in men from group A than in those from group B. Similar results were obtained by comparison of men from group A (all men were normozoospermic) with normozoospermic men from group B. According to these results, we can suppose that chromatin disorders may be the causal factor of subfertility or infertility in some of these men. No evidence for a strong association between chromatin disorders and standard parameters of ejaculates was found. We failed to confirm a relationship between smoking and sperm quality in men from any of the investigated groups. SCSA is a method that facilitates the identification of infertile men who otherwise show normal semen variables.

• MeSH
• analýza spermatu * MeSH
• chromatin chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužská infertilita patofyziologie   MeSH
• spermie cytologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin MeSH

BACKGROUND: Non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA) men can father children after testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Previous studies suggest that they may be at risk of producing chromosomally abnormal spermatozoa, but the number of sperm analysed per patient was usually very low. METHODS: Multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for detection of chromosome 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y disomy and diploidy in sperm obtained from NOA men (n = 17) and control donors (n = 10). At least 500 testicular sperm were scored in each patient to increase the precision of our study. RESULTS: The mean frequency of overall disomy (2.32%) and diploidy (0.80%) found in 13 689 testicular spermatozoa of NOA patients was significantly higher than in the ejaculated sperm of normospermic control donors, disomy (0.62%) and diploidy (0.29%). A highly significant increase in frequencies of chromosome 15, Y and overall disomy (P < 0.001), and a significant increase in disomy of chromosome 13 (P = 0.002), 16 (P = 0.031) and 21 (P = 0.018), overall diploidy (P = 0.031) and diploidy caused by errors in meiosis I (P = 0.011) were observed in the NOA group. CONCLUSIONS: Testicular sperm samples of NOA patients show a higher incidence of numerical chromosomal abnormalities compared with ejaculated sperm of control donors. Appropriate genetic counselling is necessary in NOA men undergoing TESE.

• MeSH
• aneuploidie * MeSH
• azoospermie genetika   MeSH
• chromozomální aberace MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mapování chromozomů MeSH
• meióza MeSH
• přenos embrya MeSH
• riziko MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spermie patologie   MeSH
• testis patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH