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Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 10, 2506-2512, October 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

DNA flow cytometry of human semen

U.B. Hacker-Klom1,5, W. Göhde2, E. Nieschlag3 and H.M. Behre3,4

1 Clinic and Policlinic of Radiotherapy–Radiooncology, 2 Institute of Radiobiology, 3 Institute of Reproductive Medicine and 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Münster, Germany

The aim of this study was the evaluation of DNA flow cytometry for the analysis of male infertility. 171 ejaculates from 155 patients with fertility problems were analysed by flow cytometry and by conventional microscopical procedures. Using flow cytometry, it was possible to determine the relative proportions of the various cell populations: mature haploid and abnormal diploid mature spermatozoa, cellular fragments, immature germ cells (haploid round spermatids, diploid cells, S phase and 4C cells), and of leukocytes as indicators of infection. A linear association was observed between sperm concentration in semen as quantified by light microscopy and by flow cytometry, even with fewer than 20x106 spermatozoa/ml. Eight classes of histograms, each with differing fractions of spermatozoa and other particles, were obtained and correlated with the results of the spermiograms. During the 10 year follow-up, the two patient groups with a low sperm concentration or a high concentration of cellular debris exhibited significantly impaired fertility. The two patient groups with >=5% diploid spermatozoa and with malcondensed sperm chromatin were also subfertile. No ovulatory disorders were revealed in the 155 female partners. DNA flow cytometry thus provides an additional dimension to semen analysis not easily gained by other methods and has the advantage of being rapidly performed and interpreted. We therefore recommend application of this technique in the diagnosis of male infertility.

Key words: DNA flow cytometry/light microscopy/male infertility/semen

5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie-Radioonkologie, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, D-48149 Münster, Germany


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