Genetic reproductive risk in pericentric inversion carriers

Abstract

Pericentric inversion are intrachromosomal balanced structural abnormalities. The frequency in the general population is ranged from about 0.12% to 0.7% [1]. To provide complete synapsis and recombination during meiosis pairing of the normal and inverted chromosomes requires the formation of inversion loop. One crossover within the inversion loop leads to the production of two complementary recombinant chromosomes with both duplicated and deleted chromosome segments including the regions distal to the inversion. The particular clinical relevance of inversion chromosomes is that they can set the stage for the generation of recombinant gametes that may lead to early miscarriages, stillbirth or congenital abnormalities. The estimation of empiric frequencies of recombinant spermatozoa, risk of abnormal gamete formation and potential zygote viability in four pericentric inversion carriers was performed.