title: Assessment of sperm chromatin condensation and ploidy status using flow cytometry correlates to fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy following in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sperm flow cytometry (SFC) was used to evaluate the association of sperm chromatin condensation and ploidy with fertilization, embryo development, pregnancy and abortion rates following IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conventional semen analysis was performed in one hundred fifty men, as well as SFC analysis, after acridine orange and propidium iodide staining, for the evaluation of sperm maturity and ploidy respectively. Conventional IVF was performed in all couples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Couples with low percentages of mature spermatozoa presented with lower fertilization rates (p < 0.005), lower rates of grade A embryos (p < 0.003) and lower pregnancy rates (p < 0.006), compared to couples with high percentages of mature spermatozoa. Couples with low total aneuploidy rates presented with higher fertilization rates (p < 0.007), higher rates of grade A embryos (p < 0.004) and higher pregnancy rates (p < 0.003), compared to couples with high total aneuploidy rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm chromatin condensation and ploidy constitute critical parameters for the evaluation of semen samples before IVF and for the identification of cases in need of ICSI application.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Leandros A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lazaros
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vartholomatos
authors.forename: Elissavet G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hatzi
authors.forename: Apostolos I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kaponis
authors.forename: Georgios V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Makrydimas
authors.forename: Sophia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kalantaridou
authors.forename: Nikolaos V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Sofikitis
authors.forename: Theodoros Ioannis
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Stefos
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zikopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011003:Ploidies; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin