Using semen flow cytometry to evaluate association of ploidy status and chromatin condensation of spermatozoa with conventional semen parameters: clinical application in intrauterine insemination.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between the ploidy status and the nuclear chromatin condensation of spermatozoa with conventional semen parameters by using semen flow cytometry (SFC). The prognostic value of SFC on the successful outcome of intrauterine insemination (IUI) was examined.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Patients referred to the IVF Unit of Ioannina University School of Medicine.


METHODS
Ninety-two men with sperm count between 15×10(6) and 40×10(6) spermatozoa/mL and one hundred normozoospermic men were analyzed.


METHODS
Conventional semen analysis and SFC analysis after acridine orange and propidium iodide staining. IUI performed in 92 couples.


METHODS
Evaluation of sperm maturity and ploidy. Correlation with conventional semen parameters.


RESULTS
An association of the spermatozoa ploidy status with sperm morphology and motility was revealed. The highest aneuploidy rates were observed when <15% of spermatozoa had normal morphology. An inverse relation was found between sperm morphology and maturity. The pregnancy rates were significantly lower when semen with <15% normal forms (9% vs. 25%), low percentage of mature spermatozoa, and increased total aneuploidy rate were used for IUI.


CONCLUSIONS
Ploidy status and sperm maturity are critical parameters for evaluation of the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa. SFC could be used to evaluate semen samples before IUI and potentially prognose the outcome.
Lazaros
Leandros
L
Genetics and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ioannina University School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece.
Kaponis
Apostolos
A
Vartholomatos
Georgios
G
Hatzi
Elissavet
E
Botsari
Stefania
S
Plachouras
Nikolaos
N
Makrydimas
Georgios
G
Zikopoulos
Konstantinos
K
Sofikitis
Nikolaos
N
Georgiou
Ioannis
I
D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D002843:Chromatin / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology
D002843:Chromatin