ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of sperm chromatin in patients with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome after treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with OAT syndrome were treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine for 3 months. Their sperm samples were collected before and after the treatment, subjected to acridine orange staining and analyzed by fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry and sperm routine detection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant differences were shown in the master-group sperm signals (P < 0.01) and at and COMPalphat (P < 0.05) by flow cytometry, as well as in the green and the red groups (P < 0.05) by fluorescent microscopy before and after the treatment. Changes in sperm concentration, motility, vitality and deformity were noted after the treatment, with statistic difference between pre- and post-treatment (P < 0.05) except in forward sperm concentration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment by integrated Chinese and Western medicine can improve sperm chromatin in patients with OAT syndrome. Flow cytometry, along with fluorescent microscopy and sperm routine detection, plays an important role in the evaluation of male infertility therapy.</p>