Volume 29, Issue 157, March 2025

Differentiating between oligospermic men and fertile men using aniline blue staining, a marker for sperm chromatin defects

Gülbahar Güzel Erdal^1♦, Mahmut Balkan¹, Diclehan Oral¹, Mahir Binici¹, İlyas Yücel¹, Selahattin Tekeş¹, Remziye Güzel², Onur Dede³, İsmail Yildiz⁴, Mert İpekçi¹, Zuhal Çankırı⁵

¹Dicle University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Biology and Genetic, Turkey
²Dicle University Faculty of Education, Department of Chemistry, Turkey
³Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Turkey
⁴Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Department of Biostatistics, Turkey
⁵Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Turkey

^♦Corresponding Author
Dicle University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Biology and Genetic, Turkey

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sperm nuclear chromatin condensation and semen parameters in men diagnosed with oligospermia. The study cohort included 40 oligospermia patients with idiopathic infertility and 21 fertile individuals as controls. Sperm chromatin condensation was evaluated using the aniline blue staining technique. According to the staining intensity, mature (condensed) and immature (less condensed) chromatin were distinguished. The percentage of aniline-positive (AB-positive) spermatozoa in the patient group was statistically higher than in the control group (P<0.001). This finding suggests impaired chromatin condensation may be associated with oligospermia and idiopathic infertility. Our study shows significant correlations between sperm parameters, including morphology, concentration, and motility. In oligospermia men, we observed impaired sperm structural integrity and increased sperm head and tail abnormalities. Collectively, these findings indicate that sperm chromatin condensation plays a crucial role in assessing male fertility potential. In addition to semen analysis for the comprehensive evaluation of male fertility, it is crucial to include chromatin condensation testing as a reliable and practical method in diagnostic protocols, especially in idiopathic cases.

Keywords: Aniline blue staining, oligospermia, infertility

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e48ms3539

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i157.e48ms3539

Published: 03 March 2025