The occurrence and identification of round spermatids in the ejaculate of men with nonobstructive azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the occurrence of round spermatids in the ejaculate of men suffering from nonobstructive azoospermia as a prerequisite for the therapeutic use of round spermatid injection into oocytes.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University-based diagnostic and research laboratory.


METHODS
Azoospermic men previously thought to be definitively infertile whose cases were revisited in view of the novel method of fertilization by round spermatid injection into oocytes.


METHODS
Smear preparations of cells from patients' ejaculates were stained by three different methods: Papanicolaou, fluorescein-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin binding, and antiacrosin antiserum immunolabeling.


METHODS
Search for round spermatids in smear preparations of cells from azoospermic ejaculates.


RESULTS
Of 124 azoospermic men examined, 36 (69%) had round spermatids in the ejaculate. the quantity of round spermatids was not related to serum FSH concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Variable quantities of round spermatids can be detected in the ejaculate of most patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. High serum FSH levels do not predict the absence of spermatids.
Mendoza
C
C
Group of Infertility Research, University of Granada Faculty of Sciences, Spain.
Tesarik
J
J
D000176:Acrosin / Q000032:analysis; D000177:Acrosome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013087:Spermatids / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000176:Acrosin