OBJECTIVE: Fluorescent in situ hybridization of decondensed sperm nuclei was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ericsson albumin gradient enrichment technique of Y-bearing sperm. DESIGN: Mature human spermatozoa were separated from donor- and randomly selected patient semen using three different albumin density layers. Sperm nuclei, in the albumin layer with highest density, were decondensed and the percentage Y-bearing sperm was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A slight, although statistically significant, increase in percentage Y-bearing sperm was observed. CONCLUSION: Although statistically significant, the clinical relevance of the small increase in Y-bearing sperm remains uncertain. A randomized controlled clinical study should help to clarify the above laboratory results.
OBJECTIVE: Fluorescent in situ hybridization of decondensed sperm nuclei was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ericsson albumin gradient enrichment technique of Y-bearing sperm. DESIGN: Mature human spermatozoa were separated from donor- and randomly selected patient semen using three different albumin density layers. Sperm nuclei, in the albumin layer with highest density, were decondensed and the percentage Y-bearing sperm was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization. RESULTS: A slight, although statistically significant, increase in percentage Y-bearing sperm was observed. CONCLUSION: Although statistically significant, the clinical relevance of the small increase in Y-bearing sperm remains uncertain. A randomized controlled clinical study should help to clarify the above laboratory results.