Sperm
chromatin heterogeneity has been evaluated in infertile males affected by different
testicular diseases: 37 subjects had undergone
orchidopexy in childhood (ex-cryptorchid), 50 were affected by idiopathic
varicocele, 18 had a history of bilateral post-
parotitis orchitis and 23 were "idiopathic infertiles". All subjects, except post-
parotitis orchitic patients, exhibited significantly higher sperm
chromatin heterogeneity than controls, with the highest incidence in ex-cryptorchid and in idiopathic infertiles. Ex-cryptorchid subjects also presented a significant positive linear correlation (p less than 0.001) between degree of sperm
chromatin abnormality and percentage of morphological sperm alterations. Four monolateral ex-cryptorchid subjects showed a higher percentage of
chromatin heterogeneity even when the cryptorchid testis had been removed during
orchidopexy. In patients affected by
varicocele, we also observed a significant correlation between chronological age and percentage of
chromatin alterations. The results are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis of the disease concerned. Since sperm
chromatin heterogeneity appears to be strongly involved in the development of
infertility, we would suggest that it should be evaluated in routine diagnostic procedures of
male infertility.