DNA content of spermatozoa with respect to seminal sperm concentration using a microchemical spectrophotometric method

Abstract EN

Background : To determine the DNA content in subfertile patients and to correlate it with seminal sperm concentration.

Design : Prospective observational study.

Setting : College of Medicine, Dept.

of Physiological chemistry and Institute for embryo Research and infertility treatment-University of Baghdad.The study was conducted through years 2004-2005.

Methods : A random sample of 61 subfertile male patients undergoing semen evaluation and aged from 20-45 years were studied.

Semen samples were assessed for seminal sperm concentration microscopically and were classified into 3 different groups according to count (million / ml).Then sperm D N A content (μg / ml) was estimated using a microchemical spectrophotometric method.

Results: The three groups were statistically of significant difference( P < 0.

01 ).The D N A concentration per spermatozoan in Gr.III ( 1 20 million/ml) was higher than the other two groups It was also noticed that there was a statistically significant (P< 0.05 ) correlation in Gr.III b etween D N A content and sperm concentration .

No significant (P >0.05 )correlation was observed in the other two groups (Gr.

I & Gr.

II ).

Conclusion: Significant positive correlation was obtained between sperm concentration and DNA content.

in the oligozoospermic subfertile patient , but no significant correlation was found in the normozoopermic patients .

D N A content per spermatozoan from oligozoospermic patients was higher than that in normozoospermic patients.