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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Fluorimetric Techniques for the Assessment of Sperm Membranes
Published on: November 28, 2018
[Evaluation of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential by JC-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry]
Xin-Yi Xia1, Yong-Ming Wu, Bao-Shan Hou
1Dept. of Reproduction & Genetics, PLA Research Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University Medical College/Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, PLA, Jiangsu 210002, China. xiaxy@androl.cn
Objective:
To investigate the feasibility and clinical significance of detecting sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by JC-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry, and to explore the relationship between the results of JC-1 staining and seminal parameters.
Methods:
Sixty-three semen samples were divided into a fertile (n = 31) and an infertile group (n = 32) and underwent computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). All the samples were washed, followed by JC-1 staining and evaluation of sperm MMP by flow cytometry. The percentage of normal sperm MMP was indicated as the percentage of sperm emitting orange-red fluorescence (JC-1 + %).
Results:
The JC-1 + % was significantly higher in the fertile group than in the infertile one ([75.89 +/- 15.69]% vs [54.04 +/- 22.21] %, P = 0.000), correlated positively with sperm motility (r = 0.610, P = 0.000) and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (r = 0.614, P = 0.000) and negatively with grade d sperm (r = -0.504, P = 0.000). There was a significant positive correlation between the results of JC-1 staining (JC-1 + %) and that of Rh123 /PI dual fluorescent staining (Rh123 + / PI (-)%) (r = 0.938, P = 0.000).
Conclusion:
JC-1 staining and flow cytometry could readily and quickly detect sperm MMP and the sperm JC-1 + % could be an auxiliary marker for the diagnosis of male infertility.
