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In this study we have investigated the arrangement of sex chromosomes in sperm from two severe oligozoospermic patients, apparently affected by the classic form of Klinefelter's syndrome (KS). Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization has been used to recognize chromosomes X, Y, and 8 in sperm from patients and 10 fertile men with normal 46,XY karyotype. In patients affected by KS, we detected important numerical sex chromosome abnormalities (approximately 20%). In all normal fertile men, X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa were present in a 1:1 ratio. On the contrary, in our patients the frequency of 23,Y-bearing sperm was strongly reduced compared with that of both 23,Y sperm in the controls and 23,X sperm in the same subject affected by KS, resulting in a 23,X-/23,Y-bearing sperm ratio of 2:1. Moreover, the frequency of 24,XY disomic sperm was significantly higher in the absence of the 22,0 hypoaploidy expected from a common origin from a nondysjunction during the first meiosis in a normal 46,XY cell. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate a peculiar distribution of sex chromosomes in sperm from two patients with KS, in agreement with the hypothesis that 47,XXY germ cells are able to complete the meiotic process by producing mature spermatozoa.

In three groups of normal subjects and in one group of patients with latent diabetes mellitus a study has been made of the effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on blood glucose and plasma insulin. CPZ 75 mg/day for 7 days did not alter the plasma insulin response after oral glucose; nor did CPZ 50 mg/day for 7 days affect the glucose assimilation rate or insulin response to glucose injection. Infusion of CPZ 50 mg in 60 min slightly increased the basal blood glucose level but had no significant effect on basal plasma insulin. The insulin/glucose ratio after the end of the infusion was significantly higher than during the period of infusion of the drug. In latent diabetic patients CPZ infusion significantly diminished the insulin/glucose ratio during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. These results suggest that, whereas prolonged treatment with low doses of CPZ did not modify glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated pancreatic response, higher acute doses of the drug may induce hyperglycaemia and can inhibit insulin secretion both in normal man and in patients with latent diabetes mellitus.

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