[Detection of numerical chromosome aberrations in sperm of workers exposed to benzene series by two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization].

OBJECTIVE: To study the numerical aberrations of sex chromosomes in sperm of workers exposed to benzene series.
METHODS: The interphase sperm from workers of exposed and control groups were hybridized using two color fluorescence in situ hybridization with X and Y(alpha)-satellite chromosome specific DNA probes, and the aneuploidy frequencies of X and Y chromosome in X and Y sperms were detected simultaneously.
RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of benzene in workplace air was 83.95 mg/m(3), one fold higher than national maximum allowable concentration. A total of 74,517 sperm nuclei in 13 benzene-exposed workers and 89,662 sperm nuclei in 13 control workers were counted. Frequencies of disomic sperm for X, Y and XY were (0.15 +/- 0.05)%, (0.13 +/- 0.05)% and (0.20 +/- 0.11)% in workers exposed to benzene series, and (0.10 +/- 0.04)%, (0.10 +/- 0.04)% and (0.13 +/- 0.06)% in control workers. There was statistical difference in disomic frequency of X sperm and overall disomic frequency between the benzene series-exposed workers (0.15% and 0.48%, respectively) and the control workers (0.10% and 0.33%, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Exposed to benzene at higher concentration may induce increase in aneuploidy frequency of sperm sex chromosome in exposed workers.