Identification and comparison of chromosomal alterations in infertile and fertile males of Tamil Nadu region exposed to cigarette smoking

• Published in: Journal of public health Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 207 - 213
• Main Authors: Balachandar, Vellingiri, Karthick Kumar, Alagamuthu, Arun, Meyyazhagan, Mohanadevi, Subramaniam, Velmurugan, Palanivel, Manikantan, Pappusamy, Sudha, Sellappa, Sasikala, Keshavarao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chromosome aberrations; Chromosomes; Cigarettes; Comparative studies; Epidemiology; Fertility; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Infertility; Males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Men; Offspring; Original Article; Public Health; Smoking; Variance analysis; Tamil Nadu India; India; Cigarette smokers; Pack-years; Offspring; Chromosomal aberrations (CA); Male infertility (MI)
• ISSN: 0943-1853; 2198-1833; 1613-2238
• DOI: 10.1007/s10389-010-0390-2

Aim The aim of this investigation was to identify whether cigarette smoke increases the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA) in male infertility patients. Our study also endeavored to analyze the Y-chromosome deletion in infertile subjects. Methods In total, 96 subjects were recruited, including 45 infertile patients, 45 controls subjects and 6 offsprings of the control smokers. Moreover, serum cotinine and testosterone level were analyzed in subjects. Subjects were categorized based on the pack-years (group I and II were 21.95 ± 2.42 and 30.85 ± 3.79 respectively). Results Elevated level of chromatid type aberrations (CTAs) were observed in group II (13.35 ± 3.32) compared to group I (8.95 ± 3.63) infertiles, whereas chromosomal type aberrations (CSAs) of group II and I were 5.26 ± 1.89 and 4.05 ± 2.19, respectively. In controls, higher degree of CTAs were observed in group II (8.87 ± 2.82) compared to group I (6.23 ± 2.37) and group II CSAs value was 3.65 ± 1.75 which shows slight increase compared to group I (2.73 ± 1.20). Y-Chromosome alteration was observed in 13 (28.89%) infertiles, 6 (13.33%) controls and 1(16.67%) offspring. Statistically significant results were obtained in infertile smokers compared to fertile males and their offspring which was confirmed by ANOVA ( P  < 0.05). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between the frequency of CA and the intensity of smoking in pack-years. Conclusion The accumulated evidence supports the approach of taking a preventive step against infertility by discouraging smoking in men and aiding in the elimination of tobacco smoke exposure. The genetic diagnosis may also help to prevent transmission of male infertility to the next generations.