Nonrobertsonian Translocation T(6;11) is Associated with Infertility in an Oligoazoospermic Male

OBJECTIVE:To analyze an unusual nonrobertsonian translocation t(6;11) found in an infertile, oligoazoospermic, but otherwise apparently healthy man.DESIGN:Case report with review of the scientific literature.SETTING:Academic research environment.PATIENT(S):Infertile, oligoazoospermic, but otherwise apparently healthy man.INTERVENTION(S):Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained for karyotyping, and metaphases were studied by standard GBG, RBG, and CBG banding procedures.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):Sperm count, morphology, and GBG, RBG, and CBG banding.RESULT(S):A karyogram revealed a nonrobertsonian balanced translocation t(6;11) with breakpoints at 6q15 and 11p15, as shown by R-, G-, and C-banding.CONCLUSION(S):Physical contact of unpaired autosomal material with sex chromosomes, which leads to spermatogenic arrest, may be one of the factors that accounts for infertility in men with autosomal aberrations.