RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Our purpose was to investigate the association between percentage chromomycin A3 (CMA3) positivity of spermatozoa with some sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization rate. METHODS: Spermatozoa were collected from 139 men, washed in PBS, fixed in methanol/glacial acetic acid (3:1), and then spread on slides. CMA3 positivity is expressed as the percentage in 200 spermatozoa. RESULTS: Percentage of CMA3 positivity showed not only a negative correlation with fertilization rate but also a significant difference between fertilizing and nonfertilizing patients. Moreover, percentage of CMA3-positive spermatozoa showed a negative correlation with count and percentage motility and a positive correlation with percentage of abnormal morphology. Percentage of CMA3 positivity also had a positive correlation with some abnormalities of head such as amorphous and macrocephaly. Ultrastructural study showed chromatin unpackaging in high CMA3-positive semen samples in comparison with low CMA3-positive semen samples. CONCLUSION: There is a close relationship among fertilization rate, sperm parameters, and CMA3 positivity and CMA3 could be considered as a useful tool for evaluation of male fertility prior to infertility treatment.
