Robertsonian heterozygosity and male sterility.

Meiotic and synaptonemal complex studies using electron microscopy were carried out on infertile man with a 13/14 translocation. Synaptonemal complex analysis showed a typical trivalent with incomplete pairing of the acrocentric elements. The sterilizing effect caused by the failure of synapsis is discussed. This pairing failure has a diagnostic value and a poor prognosis.