title: Gram staining applied to human spermatozoa: a simple method for studying chromatin condensation status.
abstract: Gram staining applied to human spermatozoa from fertile donors is described. The stain revealed populations of Gram-positive and Gram-negative spermatozoa. Data showed a significant and progressive decrease in the percentage of Gram-positive spermatozoa at different times during the chromatin decondensation procedure (SDS-BSA and SDS-EDTA). No significant correlation could be found between Gram staining and other functional tests used for spermatozoa; only the aniline blue staining test showed a poor correlation. Our study demonstrates that normal spermatozoa with regular chromatin condensation appear Gram-positive, while spermatozoa with altered chromatin condensation appear Gram-negative.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Seminology and Immunology of Reproduction, Institute of 5th Medical Clinic, University "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radicioni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dondero
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin