Neutral Red Supravital Staining for Cellular Elements in the Semen

Abstract

Human seminal fluid besides spermatozoa often contains other cellular elements. A supravital staining method designed to differentiate the above mentioned cellular elements was described. Amongst the spermatogenic cells only spermatocytes were stained with Neutral Red. They displayed two peculiar structures designated as "Y" granules and "Enigmatic Body". Neutral Red was absorbed by the spermiophage cells and was concentrated by them in the form of cytoplasmic granules. In addition the coarse granules of leukocytes and the gigestive vacuoles of Balantidium Coli and Trichomonads were stained with Neutral Red.