Flow cytometry of human spermatozoa

Abstract
Summary Methods are given for the preparation and staining of human spermatozoa for flow cytometric DNA measurements. Using agents for the reductive cleavage of disulfide crosslinks and suitable proteolytic enzymes and effective decondensation of the sperm chromatin and a DNA-proportional uptake of fluorochromes is achieved. Thus reliable and precise measurements of the relative DNA content of human spermatozoa are possible and the two subpopulations of haploid spermatozoa can be distinguished according to the difference in their DNA content.