Abstract: Objective To compare the apoptotic rates of sperm in patients with oligozoospermia，asthenozoospermia，teratozoospermia. Methods Semen parameters were determined by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Semen samples were from 14 fertility persons and 48 infertility patients, of which 11 patients with oligozoospermia( sperm concentration<20×10^６•mL^-1), 25 patients with asthenozoospermia (a+b<50%) and 12 patients with teratozoospermia(percentage of normal morphology sperm<14%).The apoptotic rates of sperm in two groups were analyzed by Wright-Giemsa staining. Results The apoptotic rates of sperm in infertility and oligozoospermia groups were significantly higher than that in fertility group (P<0.05). The apoptotic rates of sperm were not significantly different between asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia groups (P>0.05). The apoptotic rate of sperm in abnormal sperm concentration (sperm concentration<20×10^６•mL-1)group was significantly higher than that in nomal group (P<0.05). No significant difference of apoptotic rate of sperm of a+b grade motile sperm was found between the normal group and abnormal group (P>0.05). The apoptotic rate of sperm was not significantly different between the normal morphology sperm group and abnormal morphology sperm group (P>0.05). Conclusion The apoptotic rate of sperm in infertility group is significantly higher than that in fertility group, specially in oligozoospermia patients.

Key words: male, spermatozoa, sperm apoptosis