SELECTIVE CAPACITY OF GLASS-WOOL FILTRATION FOR THE SEPARATION OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA WITH CONDENSED CHROMATIN - A POSSIBLE THERAPEUTIC MODALITY FOR MALE-FACTOR CASES

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate chromatin condensation of human spermatozoa following swim-up compared to glass-wool separati on. Semen aliquots from men attending an andrological outpatient clini c were processed by means of a swim-up procedure and glass-wool filtra tion. Chromatin condensation was recorded using aniline blue staining and results were reported according to color intensity of stained sper m heads. Morphometric measurements of sperm heads were performed on st ained sperm samples. Results: Glass-wool filtration resulted (i) in a significantly higher total motile sperm count (P < 0.0005) compared to swim-up and (ii) in a significantly higher percentage of normal chrom atin-condensed spermatozoa compared to the ejaculate (P < 0.01). Concl usion: In contrast, comparing swim-up to the ejaculate, the percentage of matured nuclei (unstained sper matozoa) retrieved following swim-u p was significantly lower (P < 0.005). Glass-wool filtration separates human spermatozoa according to motility and size of the sperm head. T he size of the sperm head closely correlated with the chromatin conden sation quality.