Sperm ultrastructure and meiotic segregation in a group of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C

Little is known about the effect of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C on sperm quality. In this study, we analysed sperm quality from selected patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Semen samples were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were elaborated with a mathematical formula able to indicate a fertility index and the presence of the three main sperm pathologies: apoptosis, immaturity and necrosis. Meiotic chromosome segregation was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridisation carried out on sperm nuclei, using probes for chromosomes 18, X and Y. Despite normal sperm concentration, we observed reduced motility. TEM analysis highlighted that 35.7% of patients showed generally good semen quality. However, significantly higher values of apoptosis and necrosis, compared with controls, were observed, demonstrating spermatogenetic alterations. Regarding meiotic segregation, we found an incidence of disomies similar to that observed in control samples, whereas diploidy resulted higher in HCV patients, without reaching statistical significance. In conclusion, sperm quality in the studied group was not impaired; however, apoptosis and necrosis resulted out of normal range and the fertility index was significantly lower in HCV- and HBV-infected patients versus controls.