Die Analyse von Spermaproben mit Hilfe impulscytophotometrischer DNS-Bestimmungen*

DNA flow cytometry of human semen

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 20x10(6) 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.

Shape and position of the haploid peak in flow cytometric sperm histograms for the assessment of andrological diseases

Ejaculates from 45 patients with various andrological diseases and from healthy men were analyzed by flow cytometric DNA measurements. The sperm histograms obtained by this method were subjected to mathematical analysis. The height, width and position of the haploid (1 C) peak proved to be a useful criterion for the discrimination of spermatozoa from patients with heterogeneous testicular disorders (SHTD, "mixed atrophy") and homogeneous testicular disorders (SETD) with delivery of immature spermiogenetic cells as compared to healthy persons.

Flow cytometric analysis of the maldescended testis

Flow cytometric measurements of the cellular DNA contents of 16 testicular biopsies of 15 patients with maldescended testes were performed. 2 patients were children. 11 patients of pubescent or adult age had no haploid germ cells in the tissue of their maldescended testis. One patient with a testis mobilis had about a normal percentage of haploid germ cells. In one patient a malignant tumor was detected unexpectedly by an aneuploid stem line at 2.2 c. Flow cytometric analysis of human testicular biopsy material is an easy and a fast way to quantify the function of spermatogenesis and detect malignancies.