KARYOTYPIC ANALYSIS OF CHROMOSOMAL POLYMORPHISM IN RELATION TO REPRODUCTIVE FAILURE

Objective: This study was undertaken to elucidate the role of heteromorphism in causation of reproductive anomalies like infertility.Methods: In our study, cytogenetic analysis of 830 suspected referral cases of both sexes were assessed using standard karyotypic technique with Giemsa staining from their blood samples. We identified heteromorphism of D/G groups and non-acrocentric chromosomes following WHO nomenclature.Results: Our data revealed that most of our heteromorphic cases (38;4.58%) were related to p arm satellites (ps+) of the chromosomes and are related to infertility and abortion. No significant gender variation was noticed in this study.Conclusion: We hence, suggest that heteromorphism is associated with a loss of reproductive function, as heterochromatin may contain genes that regulate cellular roles in reproduction. Further, it becomes important that such cases are considered for molecular studies, genetic counseling and prenatal/pre-implantation screening