DNA content of human spermatozoa with respect to sperm morphology

ABSTRACT

The studies on the relationships of sperm morphology and DNA was backdated for nearly 25 years. DNA and morphology was studied in mammalian sperm by flow cytometry and DNA content of different sperm types for normal and abnonnal subfertile humans was recorded. The effects of some factors like drugs, cigarette smoking, cryopreservation and sexual abstinence and others on sperm morphology and DNA damage, denaturation and fragmentation in both normal fertile and abnormal infertile men were reported. Several methods for the evaluation and estimation of DNA in spermatozoa have been reported. The objective of the present study was the determination of the DNA content of spermatozoa in subfertile persons and its correlation with sperm morphology. A random sample of 66 subfertile males attending the Institute for Embryo Research and Infertility treatment, University of Baghdad, were enrolled in this study through years 2004-2005.The patients age ranged 20-45 years and their semen samples were assessed for sperm morphology by direct light microscopy. DNA content [microg/ml] was estimated using a microchemical spectrophotometric method, and data were classified into two groups according to sperm percent abnormality [below and above 50%].The results showed that no statistically significant difference [P > 0.05] of DNA content between the two groups was obtained. The DNA content [microg/ml] showed a negative non significant correlation with percent morphology in the normal and abnormal groups [P>0.05]. The level of the DNA content in the spermatozoa was not related to its percentage of morphological abnormalities