Using semen flow cytometry to evaluate association of ploidy status and chromatin condensation of spermatozoa with conventional semen parameters: Clinical application in intrauterine insemination

ObjectiveTo 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.DesignProspective study.SettingPatients referred to the IVF Unit of Ioannina University School of Medicine.Patient(s)Ninety-two men with sperm count between 15 × 106 and 40 × 106 spermatozoa/mL and one hundred normozoospermic men were analyzed.Intervention(s)Conventional semen analysis and SFC analysis after acridine orange and propidium iodide staining. IUI performed in 92 couples.Main Outcome Measure(s)Evaluation of sperm maturity and ploidy. Correlation with conventional semen parameters.Result(s)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.Conclusion(s)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.