title: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: a potential technique for noninvasive detection of spermatogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seminal plasma is an excellent source for noninvasive detection of spermatogenesis. The seminal plasma of normospermic and azoospermic men has been analyzed for detection of spermatogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Optical spectroscopy (Attenuated Total Reflectance-Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) has been used to analyze the seminal plasma and the metabolome of seminal plasma for detection of spermatogenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seminal plasma of normospermic and azoospermic men has been analyzed by ATR-IR. The results show that there is a pattern variation in the azoospermic men compared to normospermic men. However, the seminal plasma is too complex to show significant pattern variation. Therefore, the metabolome which is a subcomponent of the seminal plasma was analyzed. The seminal plasma metabolome of normospermic and azoospermic men has been analyzed by FT-IR. A significant pattern change was observed. The data combined with chemometrics analysis showed that significant changes are observed at metabolome level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that FT-IR has the potential as a diagnostic tool instead of testicular biopsy.
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Kambiz
authors: K
authors: Gilany
authors: Department of Chemistry, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Roudabeh Sadat Moazeni
authors: RS
authors: Pouracil
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Sadeghi
keywords: Azoospermia; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Metabolome; Seminal plasma