title: [Analysis of DNA content of spermatogenic cells in the adult human testis and epididymis by flow cytometry].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the changes of DNA ploidy of spermatogenic cells in testis and epididymis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Right epididymides and testes from 15 fertile youth donors who died of accident were collected. Samples of spermatogenic cells in different regions of epididymis (caput, corpus and cauda) and tests were collected. DNA of spermatogenic cells were detected by flow cyctometry (FCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The haploid(1n), diploid(2n) and tetraploid(4n) spermatogenic cells were existed in different regions of epididymis and testis. The 1n cells increased from (24.87 +/- 7.28)% in testis to (96.33 +/- 1.58)% in epididymis cauda, there were significant differences among regions of testis and epididymis caput, corpus(P < 0.01), and the difference among regions of epididymis corpus and epididymis cauda were also significant(P < 0.05). While the percentages of 2n and 4n cells decreased from (63.07 +/- 8.96)% and (9.43 +/- 3.83)% in tesits to (2.47 +/- 0.93)% and (1.17 +/- 0.95)% in epididymis respectively. There was significant difference of 2n cells between testis and epididymis caput, corpus(P < 0.01), and was also remarkable difference between epididymis corpus and cauda (P < 0.05). There was no difference of 4n cells between testis and epididymis caput(P > 0.05). There were significant difference among regions of epididymis caput, corpus and cauda(P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of immature spermatogenic cells decreased along with passing through the epididymis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, 88th Hospital of PLA, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-Lian
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: You-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA