| Objective: To study the relationship among spermatid DNA content, chromatincondensation and male infertility.Methods: 30 ejaculates from fertile men and 95 ejaculates from infertile men wereanalyzed by DNA flow cytometry (FCM). The relative proportion and chromatincondensation of various cells in the semen were investigated.Results: 1. The number of mature haploid spermatozoa (91.72+2. 60%) in thesemen DNA FCM histogram of the fertile men were observed, and diploid spermatozoa,tetraploid and round haploid spermatids decreased simultaneously.25 ejaculates from 30fertile men were normal semen DNA FCM histograms.2. Various pathological changes in the semen of the infertile men were observed: (1)Thenumber of every kind spermatid was normal. (2)The number of mature haploidspermatozoa was decreased. (3)The number of round haploid spermatids was increased.(4) The number of diploid spermatozoa was increased. (5) Diploid spermatozoa,tetraploid and round haploid spermatids increased simultaneously. 80 ejaculates from 95infertile men were abnormal semen DNA FCM histograms.3.Sperm density,percentage of forward motility and DNA content of mature haploidspermatozoa, diploid spermatozoa and tetraploid spermatozoa were significantdifferences between the fertile and infertile groups(P<0.01 ),and age was no significantdifferences between the fertile and infertile groups (P > 0.05) .4. The fluorescence mean of sperm chromatin revealed significant differences between the fertile and infertile groups (P<0.01) .5. There were significant differences among mature haploid spermatozoa and spermatid chromatin (P<0.01) . The fluorescence mean of mature haploid spermatozoa, round haploid spermatids, diploid spermatozoa and tetraploid spermatozoa increased in turn.6. There was negative correlation between the fluorescence mean of mature haploid spermatozoa DNA chromatin(chromatin condensation), DNA content of mature haploid spermatozoa and sperm density (P<0.01) .Conclusion: There was a very close relationship between spermatid DNA content,chromatin condensation and male fertility. One possible reason for male infertility wasthe presence of increased spermatid DNA content and decreased chromatincondensation.DNA flow cytometry of human semen can be an auxiliary method for thestudy and diagnosis of male infertility. |
