Somatic chromosomal aberrations and male infertility.

A significant correlation was found between the frequency of chromosomally aberrant peripheral lymphocytes and a low frequency of morphologically normal spermatozoa in men. No correlation was found between increased chromosomal breakage, other sperm parameters and density, motility or agglutination of spermatozoa. Smokers had significantly more cells with aberrations than nonsmokers. The significance of induced lesions in peripheral lymphocytes and their relationship to reproduction was discussed.