FLUORESCENT IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION EVALUATION OF HUMAN Y-BEARING SPERMATOZOA SEPARATED BY ALBUMIN DENSITY GRADIENTS

Objective: Fluorescent in situ hybridization of decondensed sperm nucl ei was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ericsson albumin gradient enrichment technique of Y-bearing sperm. Design: Mature human spermatozoa were separated from donor- and randomly selected patient semen using three different albumin density layers. Sperm nuclei, in t he albumin layer with highest density, were decondensed and the percen tage Y-bearing sperm was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridizati on. Results: A slight, although statistically significant, increase in percentage Y-bearing sperm was observed. Conclusion: Although statist ically significant, the clinical relevance of the small increase in Y- bearing sperm remains uncertain. A randomized controlled clinical stud y should help to clarify the above laboratory results.