Dimensional assessment of X-bearing and Y-bearing haploid and disomic human sperm with the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization and objective morphometry

Objective: To explore the dimensional attributes of haploid and disomic X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa. Design: Morphometric evaluation of more than 2,000 X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa after identification of the genotype with fluorescence in situ hybridization. Setting: Academic clinical and research andrology laboratory. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm head area, perimeter, long axis, short axis, shape factor, elliptical form factor (long axis/short axis), and tail length. Result(s): We found no differences in dimensions or dimensional distributions between X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa, whether in the native or the decondensed state, or in oligozoospermic or normozoospermic men. There were inconsistent differences and a 70% overlap in the dimensions of haploid and disomic spermatozoa. The other 30% of sperm with disomic nuclei were either smaller or larger compared to haploid spermatozoa. Conclusion(s) There are no differences, or distinguishing characteristics, in dimensions or dimensional distributions between X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa. Dimensional attributes do not discriminate between dysomic and haploid spermatozoa.