DNA flow cytometry of human semen

The aim of this study was the evaluation of DNA flow cytometry for the anal ysis of male infertility, 171 ejaculates from 155 patients with fertility p roblems were analysed by flow cytometry and by conventional microscopical p rocedures, Using flow cytometry, it was possible to determine the relative proportions of the various cell populations: mature haploid and abnormal di ploid mature spermatozoa, cellular fragments, immature germ cells (haploid round spermatids, diploid cells, S phase and 4C cells), and of leukocytes a s indicators of infection. A linear association was observed between sperm concentration in semen as quantified by light microscopy and by flow cytome try, even with fewer than 20 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml, Eight classes of histo grams, each with differing fractions of spermatozoa and other particles, we re obtained and correlated with the results of the spermiograms. During the 10 year follow-up, the two patient groups with a low sperm concentration o r a high concentration of cellular debris exhibited significantly impaired fertility. The two patient groups with greater than or equal to 5% diploid spermatozoa and with malcondensed sperm chromatin were also subfertile, No ovulatory disorders were revealed in the 155 female partners. DNA flow cyto metry thus provides an additional dimension to semen analysis not easily ga ined by other methods and has the advantage of being rapidly performed and interpreted, We therefore recommend application of this technique in the di agnosis of male infertility.