Evaluation of sperm apoptosis in Iraqi severe oligozoospermic patients using annexin-V by flow cytometry

Abstract EN

The présent study w'as conductcd in the institute of gcnctic engineering and biotcchnology - university of Baghdad during a period from 15 Scptcmber 2015 to 10 Fcbruary 2016.

The aim of this study was to dctcct the apoptotic altérations in sperm of Iraqi patients with sevcrc oligozoospermia depending on annexin V- binding using flow cytomctry and study its rclationship with some semen parameters.

Scmen samplcs w'crc taken from severc oligozoospermie (SOS) patients (n=75) and apparcntly hcalthy (AH) subjccts (fertile, n=25) by masturbation following 3-7 days of sexual abstinences in Baghdad spccialist fertility Centre.

Semcn samplcs were evaluated according to the WHO critcria which includc volume, count and the percentages of motility, active, normal and abnormal sperm.

Sperm apoptosis was determined using annexin V-FITC kit (Aviscera Biosciencc, USA) by flow cytomctry.

The percentages of livc sperms were significantly (p<0.01) higher in AH subjccts than in SOS patients.

The percentages of early and latc apoptotic sperms were significantly (p<0.01) lowcr in AH subjccts than in SOS patients.

Apoptotic index values were significantly (p<0.01) lowcr in AH subjccts than in SOS patients.

Semcn volume significantly (p<0.01) corrclatcd with the perccntage of viable sperm (r = 0.76) and invcrsely corrclatcd (p<0.01) with the percentages of early and latc apoptosis and apoptotic index.

Sperm count was invcrsely corrclatcd (p<0.01) with the percentages of early and latc apoptosis and apoptotic index, sperm motility percentages were invcrsely corrclatcd (p<0.01) with the percentages of early and latc apoptosis and apoptotic index.

The percentages of both active and normal sperm were invcrsely corrclatcd (p<0.01) with the percentages of early, latc apoptotic and apoptotic index.

In conclusion, our results showed that the percentages of apoptotic and nccrotic spermatozoa dctcctcd by flow cytomctry may be used as biomarkers for the détection of fertility.