Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: A Potential Technique For Noninvasive Detection of Spermatogenesis

Background: the seminal plasma is an excellent source for noninvasive detectionof spermatogenesis. the seminal plasma of normospermic and azoospermicmen has been analyzed for detection of spermatogenesis.methods: optical spectroscopy (attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy(atr-ir) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ft-ir) hasbeen used to analyze the seminal plasma and the metabolome of seminalplasma for detection of spermatogenesis.results the seminal plasma of normospermic and azoospermic men has beenanalyzed by atr-ir. the results show that there is a pattern variation in the azoospermic men compared to normospermic men. however, the seminal plasma is too complex to show significant pattern variation. therefore, the metabolome which is a subcomponent of the seminal plasma was analyzed. the seminal plasma metabolome of normospermic and azoospermic men has been analyzed by ft-ir. a significant pattern change was observed. the data combined with chemometrics analysis showed that significant changes are observed at metabolome level. conclusion: we suggest that ft-ir has the potential as a diagnostic tool instead of testicular biopsy.