Deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry of germ cells in the investigatin of male infertility.

DNA flow cytometry was applied to fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens from the testes of 20 oligospermic or azoospermic men under investigation for infertility. All aspirations gave sufficient material for DNA flow cytometry, and no complications occurred after aspiration. In both groups many DNA patterns deviated from those observed in control specimens. In general, abnormally small testes were associated with the greatest deviations in DNA patterns. In specimens from certain azoospermic men the DNA distributions did not deviate from those of control samples, suggesting a block in the testicular excurrent ducts. These findings also suggest that DNA flow cytometry of aspirated testicular material can be used in the classification of tubular degeneration in males. The results are obtained within a short time, are quantitative and without bias, and the aspiration causes only little discomfort to the patient. The method can therefore be recommended as a very practical means of obtaining quantitative estimates of spermatogenesis in men being evaluated for infertility.