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Ying LJ, Yu L, Yang T, Wu YB, Xu JY, Jia YL, Zheng Y, Li F. Semen parameters are seriously affected in acephalic spermatozoa syndrome. Basic Clin Androl 2022; 32:20. [PMID: 36028792 PMCID: PMC9413908 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-022-00170-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported that some patients with headless spermatozoa have poor semen quality, but there has been no published systematic analysis of semen quality in patients with different proportions of headless spermatozoa in semen. We aimed to explore the association of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome and semen quality in men with distinct proportions of headless spermatozoa. MATERIAL AND METHODS Semen parameter values in patients for whom headless spermatozoa were found in the ejaculates was studied and compared to that of 413 age-matched prenatal examination patients. All semen samples were analyzed following the same methodology in a single laboratory. RESULTS All semen parameter values except semen volume were negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with the proportion of headless spermatozoa. The semen samples were divided into four groups on the basis of the proportion of headless spermatozoa (PHS) as follows: 0 < PHS ≤ 5% (n = 172, Group A1); 5 < PHS ≤ 10% (n = 76, Group A2); 10 < PHS ≤ 20% (n = 71, Group B); and PHS > 20% (n = 71, Group C). In Group A1, only one semen parameter value (progressive motility) was lower than those of the control group, but in Group A2, this increased to five (sperm vitality, normal sperm morphology, sperm motility, VCL (curvilinear velocity) and ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement)). Worse still, all semen parameter values were significantly lower in Group B and Group C than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Semen samples containing headless spermatozoa tend to have lower quality than samples without headless spermatozoa. Increases in the proportion of headless spermatozoa in semen are associated with decreased semen quality. We suggest that headless spermatozoa should be seriously assessed and accurately counted in semen analysis, especially for ejaculate in which the proportion of headless spermatozoa exceeds 5%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Ying
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Yu
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying-Bi Wu
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin-Yan Xu
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Ye-Lin Jia
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China
| | - Fuping Li
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, No. 1416, Section 1, Chenglong Avenue, Sichuan, 610066, Chengdu, China.
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Mazaheri Moghaddam M, Mazaheri Moghaddam M, Hamzeiy H, Baghbanzadeh A, Pashazadeh F, Sakhinia E. Genetic basis of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in infertile men: a systematic scoping review. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:573-586. [PMID: 33452591 PMCID: PMC7910383 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-02008-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome (ASS) is known as a severe type of teratozoospermia, defined as semen composed of mostly headless spermatozoa that affect male fertility. In this regard, this systematic review aimed to discuss gene variants associated with acephalic spermatozoa phenotype as well as the clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment for the acephalic spermatozoa-associated male infertility. METHODS A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Ovid databases until May 17, 2020. This systematic scoping review was reported in terms of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement. RESULTS Twenty articles were included in this systematic review. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing have helped in the identification of variants in SUN5, PMFBP1, BRDT, TSGA10, DNAH6, HOOK1, and CEP112 genes as possible causes of this phenotype in humans. The results of the ICSI are conflicting due to both positive and negative reports of ICSI outcomes. CONCLUSION ASS has a genetic origin, and several genetic alterations related to the pathogenesis of this anomaly have been recently identified. Notably, only SUN5 and PMFBP1 mutations are well-known to be implicated in ASS. Accordingly, more functional studies are needed to confirm the pathogenicity of other variants. ICSI could provide a promising treatment for acephalic spermatozoa-associated male infertility. Besides the importance of sperm head-tail junction integrity, some other factors, whether within the sperm cell or female factors, may be involved in the ICSI outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziyeh Mazaheri Moghaddam
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Madiheh Mazaheri Moghaddam
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS), Zanjan, Iran
| | - Hamid Hamzeiy
- Tabriz Genetic Analysis Centre (TGAC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Genomize Inc., Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fariba Pashazadeh
- Research Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Sakhinia
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Tabriz Genetic Analysis Centre (TGAC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Nie H, Tang Y, Qin W. Beyond Acephalic Spermatozoa: The Complexity of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:6279795. [PMID: 32104701 PMCID: PMC7035536 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6279795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This review analyses the genetic mechanisms of acephalic spermatozoa (AS) defects, which are associated with primary infertility in men. Several target genes of headless sperms have been identified but intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes are complex. Based on electron microscopic observations, broken points of the sperm neck are AS defects that are based on various genes that can be classified into three subtypes: HOOK1, SUN5, and PMFBP1 genes of subtype II; TSGA10 and BRDT genes of subgroup III, while the genetic mechanism(s) and aetiology of AS defects of subtype I have not been described and remain to be explored. Interestingly, all AS sperm of subtype II achieved better ICSI outcomes than other subtypes, resulting in clinical pregnancies and live births. For subtype III, the failure of clinical pregnancy can be explained by the defects of paternal centrioles that arrest embryonic development; for subtype I, this was due to a lack of a distal centriole. Consequently, the embryo quality and potential ICSI results of AS defects can be predicted by the subtypes of AS defects. However, this conclusion with regard to ICSI outcomes based on subtypes still needs further research, while the existence of quality of oocyte and implantation failure in women cannot be ignored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Nie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Special Hospital of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunge Tang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Special Hospital of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Central Laboratory of Family Planning Special Hospital of Guangdong Province of China, Guangzhou, China
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Ito C, Akutsu H, Yao R, Yoshida K, Yamatoya K, Mutoh T, Makino T, Aoyama K, Ishikawa H, Kunimoto K, Tsukita S, Noda T, Kikkawa M, Toshimori K. Odf2 haploinsufficiency causes a new type of decapitated and decaudated spermatozoa, Odf2-DDS, in mice. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14249. [PMID: 31582806 PMCID: PMC6776547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50516-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer dense fibre 2 (Odf2 or ODF2) is a cytoskeletal protein required for flagella (tail)-beating and stability to transport sperm cells from testes to the eggs. There are infertile males, including human patients, who have a high percentage of decapitated and decaudated spermatozoa (DDS), whose semen contains abnormal spermatozoa with tailless heads and headless tails due to head-neck separation. DDS is untreatable in reproductive medicine. We report for the first time a new type of Odf2-DDS in heterozygous mutant Odf2+/- mice. Odf2+/- males were infertile due to haploinsufficiency caused by heterozygous deletion of the Odf2 gene, encoding the Odf2 proteins. Odf2 haploinsufficiency induced sperm neck-midpiece separation, a new type of head-tail separation, leading to the generation of headneck sperm cells or headnecks composed of heads with necks and neckless tails composed of only the main parts of tails. The headnecks were immotile but alive and capable of producing offspring by intracytoplasmic headneck sperm injection (ICSI). The neckless tails were motile and could induce capacitation but had no significant forward motility. Further studies are necessary to show that ICSI in humans, using headneck sperm cells, is viable and could be an alternative for infertile patients suffering from Odf2-DDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chizuru Ito
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Akutsu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Ryoji Yao
- Department of Cell Biology, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research (JFCR) Cancer Institute, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
| | - Keiichi Yoshida
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
- Next-generation Development Center for Cancer Treatment, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan
| | - Kenji Yamatoya
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
- Institute for Environmental & Gender-specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, 279-0021, Japan
| | - Tohru Mutoh
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Makino
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Aoyama
- Materials and Structural Analysis (ex FEI), Thermo Ficher Scientific, Shinagawa Seaside West Tower 1F, 4-12-2 HigashiSinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0002, Japan
- Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, 7-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ishikawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco 600 16th St., San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Koshi Kunimoto
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sachiko Tsukita
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Noda
- Director's Room, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research (JFCR) Cancer Institute, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan
| | - Masahide Kikkawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Toshimori
- Department of Functional Anatomy, Reproductive Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
- Future Medicine Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
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Mortimer D. The functional anatomy of the human spermatozoon: relating ultrastructure and function. Mol Hum Reprod 2019; 24:567-592. [PMID: 30215807 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gay040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Internet, magazine articles, and even biomedical journal articles, are full of cartoons of spermatozoa that bear minimal resemblance to real spermatozoa, especially human spermatozoa, and this had led to many misconceptions about what spermatozoa look like and how they are constituted. This review summarizes the historical and current state of knowledge of mammalian sperm ultrastructure, with particular emphasis on and relevance to human spermatozoa, combining information obtained from a variety of electron microscopic (EM) techniques. Available information on the composition and configuration of the various ultrastructural components of the spermatozoon has been related to their mechanistic purpose and roles in the primary aspects of sperm function and fertilization: motility, hyperactivation, capacitation, the acrosome reaction and sperm-oocyte fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mortimer
- Oozoa Biomedical Inc., Caulfeild Village, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Hetherington L, Schneider EK, Scott C, DeKretser D, Muller CH, Hondermarck H, Velkov T, Baker MA. Deficiency in Outer Dense Fiber 1 Is a Marker and Potential Driver of Idiopathic Male Infertility. Mol Cell Proteomics 2016; 15:3685-3693. [PMID: 27770032 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m116.060343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, ∼1 in 15 men of reproductive age are infertile, yet the precise mechanisms underlying their gamete failure are unknown. Although a semen analysis is performed to determine fertilizing potential, the diagnostic suitability of this analysis has been questioned in several reports, as many men, classified as infertile according to their semen analysis, subsequently turn out to be fertile. Herein, we have used a quantitative (phospho)-proteomic analysis, using enrichment on titanium dioxide followed by ion-trap mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to compare the semen of infertile versus fertile males. One protein, namely outer dense fiber 1 (ODF1), was dramatically reduced in infertile males. Using specific antibodies, we then screened the gametes of a cohort of suspected infertile men and demonstrated a reduction in the amount of ODF1 compared with fertile controls. Stress treatment of sperm deficient in ODF1 caused the head to decapitate, suggesting why these gametes fail to initiate fertilization. Interestingly, electron micrographs of ODF1-deficient spermatozoa revealed an abnormal connecting piece, indicating several developmental defects with both the implantation plate and the thin laminated fibers. In some cases, the implantation plate appeared to be reduced in size or was overburdened by granular material near the connecting piece. Hence, a strong reduction ODF1 is a marker of idiopathic male infertility and a potential driver of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Hetherington
- From the ‡Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Hunter Medical Research Institute,University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Elena K Schneider
- §Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Vic, 3052, Australia
| | | | - David DeKretser
- ¶Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Vic, 3800, Australia; Department of Urology 356510, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195-6510, USA
| | | | | | - Tony Velkov
- §Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Vic, 3052, Australia
| | - Mark A Baker
- From the ‡Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Hunter Medical Research Institute,University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia;
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7
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Sha YW, Ding L, Wu JX, Lin SB, Wang X, Ji ZY, Li P. Headless spermatozoa in infertile men. Andrologia 2016; 49. [PMID: 27709648 DOI: 10.1111/and.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa morphology, an important parameter in a semen specimen's potential fertility evaluation, is a significant factor for in vitro fertilisation in assisted reproductive technology. Eleven sterile men with headless spermatozoa, a type of human teratozoospermia, are presented. Their ejaculates' headless spermatozoa percentages were high with rare normal spermatozoa forms. Additionally, abnormal morphology (e.g. round-headed or microcephalic spermatozoa) was also found. Spermatozoa motility was somewhat affected, potentially because of the missing mitochondrial sheath at the sperm tail base. Patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes. Work types and corresponding environments seemed irrelevant, but specific family history may have prompted its genetic origin. Computer-assisted semen analysis systems easily mistake headless spermatozoa as oligozoospermia because of nonrecognition of the loose head. However, morphological testing, especially with an electronic microscope, clearly identifies abnormal spermatozoa. Future exploration requires more methods investigating the frequency and percentage of this morphological abnormality in different populations with varied fertility levels. Such research would estimate the probable correlation of the abnormality with other semen parameters and examine the potential developmental or genetic origins. During clinical work, medical staff should detect these cases, avoid misdiagnosis and provide proper consultation about diagnosis and assisted reproductive technology treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-W Sha
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
| | - L Ding
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
| | - J-X Wu
- Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - S-B Lin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
| | - X Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
| | - Z-Y Ji
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
| | - P Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xiamen City, Xiamen, China
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Zhu F, Wang F, Yang X, Zhang J, Wu H, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, He X, Zhou P, Wei Z, Gecz J, Cao Y. Biallelic SUN5 Mutations Cause Autosomal-Recessive Acephalic Spermatozoa Syndrome. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 99:942-949. [PMID: 27640305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome is a rare and severe form of teratozoospermia characterized by a predominance of headless spermatozoa in the ejaculate. Family clustering and consanguinity suggest a genetic origin; however, causative mutations have yet to be identified. We performed whole-exome sequencing in two unrelated infertile men and subsequent variant filtering identified one homozygous (c.824C>T [p.Thr275Met]) and one compound heterozygous (c.1006C>T [p.Arg356Cys] and c.485T>A [p.Met162Lys]) SUN5 (also named TSARG4) variants. Sanger sequencing of SUN5 in 15 additional unrelated infertile men revealed four compound heterozygous (c.381delA [p.Val128Serfs∗7] and c.824C>T [p.Thr275Met]; c.381delA [p.Val128Serfs∗7] and c.781G>A [p.Val261Met]; c.216G>A [p.Trp72∗] and c.1043A>T [p.Asn348Ile]; c.425+1G>A/c.1043A>T [p.Asn348Ile]) and two homozygous (c.851C>G [p.Ser284∗]; c.350G>A [p.Gly114Arg]) variants in six individuals. These 10 SUN5 variants were found in 8 of 17 unrelated men, explaining the genetic defect in 47.06% of the affected individuals in our cohort. These variants were absent in 100 fertile population-matched control individuals. SUN5 variants lead to absent, significantly reduced, or truncated SUN5, and certain variants altered SUN5 distribution in the head-tail junction of the sperm. In summary, these results demonstrate that biallelic SUN5 mutations cause male infertility due to autosomal-recessive acephalic spermatozoa syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuxi Zhu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
| | - Fengsong Wang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Zhaolian Wei
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Jozef Gecz
- School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Hefei 230022, China.
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Rondanino C, Duchesne V, Escalier D, Jumeau F, Verhaeghe F, Peers MC, Mitchell V, Rives N. Evaluation of sperm nuclear integrity in patients with different percentages of decapitated sperm in ejaculates. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 31:89-99. [PMID: 26001636 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The decapitated sperm defect is a rare type of teratozoospermia responsible for male infertility. Spermatozoa from patients affected by this syndrome are used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) although little is known about their DNA integrity. This study evaluated sperm nuclear alterations in four patients and ten fertile men (control group). Sperm samples were examined by light, transmission electron and high-magnification contrast microscopy and analysed after terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling, aniline blue staining and fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Spermatozoa from patients presented varying degrees of decapitation, along with morphological and ultrastructural head abnormalities. Whereas the proportion of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA and numerical chromosome abnormalities was similar in patients 1-3 and controls, the percentage of spermatozoa with hypocondensed chromatin was higher in patients 1-3 than in fertile men. Patient 4 presented a distinct phenotype, with an increased proportion of flagellated spermatozoa with DNA strand breaks as well as increased aneuploidy and diploidy rates compared with controls and with patients 1-3. No successful pregnancy resulted from ICSI although embryos were obtained for three patients. The morphological defects and the nuclear alterations observed in spermatozoa of patients with the decapitated sperm syndrome may have contributed to ICSI failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Rondanino
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, CHU - Hôpitaux de Rouen, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France.
| | - Véronique Duchesne
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, CHU - Hôpitaux de Rouen, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Denise Escalier
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U933, Hôpital Armand-Trousseau, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Jumeau
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, CHU - Hôpitaux de Rouen, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - France Verhaeghe
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, CHU - Hôpitaux de Rouen, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Marie-Claire Peers
- Institut de Biologie de la Reproduction - Spermiologie - CECOS, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Valérie Mitchell
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Institut de Biologie de la Reproduction - Spermiologie - CECOS, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nathalie Rives
- EA 4308 'Gamétogenèse et qualité du gamète', Rouen, France; Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction - CECOS, CHU - Hôpitaux de Rouen, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France
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10
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Spata6 is required for normal assembly of the sperm connecting piece and tight head-tail conjunction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E430-9. [PMID: 25605924 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1424648112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
"Pinhead sperm," or "acephalic sperm," a type of human teratozoospermia, refers to the condition in which ejaculate contains mostly sperm flagella without heads. Family clustering and homogeneity of this syndrome suggests a genetic basis, but the causative genes remain largely unknown. Here we report that Spata6, an evolutionarily conserved testis-specific gene, encodes a protein required for formation of the segmented columns and the capitulum, two major structures of the sperm connecting piece essential for linking the developing flagellum to the head during late spermiogenesis. Inactivation of Spata6 in mice leads to acephalic spermatozoa and male sterility. Our proteomic analyses reveal that SPATA6 is involved in myosin-based microfilament transport through interaction with myosin subunits (e.g., MYL6).
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11
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Wang H, Chen XX, Wang LR, Mao YD, Zhou ZM, Sha JH. AF-2364 is a prospective spermicide candidate. Asian J Androl 2010; 12:322-35. [PMID: 20418891 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2010.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractInhibition of sperm motility has recently become a promising target for male contraceptive development. AF-2364, an analogue of Lonidamine (LND), had a contraceptive effect when orally administered to adult Sprague-Dawley rats. LND can also target mitochondria to inhibit oxygen consumption and block energy metabolism in tumour cells. However, there are no reports of the effects of AF-2364 on human sperm function. Herein we describe the action of AF-2364 on human sperm in vitro, as well as the mechanisms involved. AF-2364 specifically blocked human sperm motility in vitro. Further experiments revealed that AF-2364 can target sperm mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pores to induce the loss of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and decrease ATP generation; however, no significant changes in the cytoskeletal network or the human sperm proteome were detected after exposure to AF-2364. Incubation of AF-2364 with other human or mouse cell lines indicated that the spermicidal effect at the lower concentration was specific. In summary, the spermicidal effect of AF-2364 involves direct action on sperm MPT pores, and this compound should be further investigated as a new spermicide candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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12
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Zhou J, Du YR, Qin WH, Hu YG, Huang YN, Bao L, Han D, Mansouri A, Xu GL. RIM-BP3 is a manchette-associated protein essential for spermiogenesis. Development 2009; 136:373-82. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.030858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
During spermiogenesis, round spermatids are converted into motile sperm in mammals. The mechanisms responsible for sperm morphogenesis are poorly understood. We have characterized a novel protein, RIM-BP3, with a specialized function in spermatid development in mice. The RIM-BP3 protein is associated with the manchette, a transient microtubular structure believed to be important for morphogenesis during spermiogenesis. Targeted deletion of the RIM-BP3 gene resulted in male infertility owing to abnormal sperm heads, which are characterized by a deformed nucleus and a detached acrosome. Consistent with its role in morphogenesis, the RIM-BP3 protein physically associates with Hook1, a known manchette-bound protein required for sperm head morphogenesis. Interestingly, RIM-BP3 does not interact with the truncated Hook1 protein characterized in azh (abnormal spermatozoon head) mutant mice. Moreover, RIM-BP3 and Hook1 mutant mice display several common abnormalities, in particular with regard to the ectopic positioning of the manchette within the spermatid, a presumed cause of sperm head deformities. These observations suggest an essential role for RIM-BP3 in manchette development and function through its interaction with Hook1. As the occurrence of deformed spermatids is one of the common abnormalities leading to malfunctional sperm, identification of RIM-BP3 might provide insight into the molecular cue underlying causes of male infertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ya-Rui Du
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei-Hua Qin
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ye-Guang Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yan-Nv Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lan Bao
- The Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Daishu Han
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Ahmed Mansouri
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Am Fassberg, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
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13
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Ruiz-Pesini E, Díez-Sánchez C, López-Pérez MJ, Enríquez JA. The role of the mitochondrion in sperm function: is there a place for oxidative phosphorylation or is this a purely glycolytic process? Curr Top Dev Biol 2007; 77:3-19. [PMID: 17222698 DOI: 10.1016/s0070-2153(06)77001-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
We review here the current knowledge related to the metabolic pathways used by spermatozoa to meet their high demands for ATP. This is discussed with special emphasis on one of their key roles, motility. We believe that the controversy among glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation supporters is artificial and, as it happens in many other cell types, the source of ATP is multiple and depends on external inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Ruiz-Pesini
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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14
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Emery BR, Thorp C, Malo JW, Carrell DT. Pregnancy from intracytoplasmic sperm injection of a sperm head and detached tail. Fertil Steril 2004; 81:686-8. [PMID: 15037422 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2003] [Revised: 07/09/2003] [Accepted: 07/09/2003] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate sperm ultrastructure and the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with careful positioning of the sperm midpiece next to the sperm head in a patient with easily decapitated sperm syndrome. DESIGN In vitro fertilization case report with retrospective sperm ultrastructure analysis. SETTING In vitro fertilization clinic and andrology laboratory. PATIENT(S) A couple seeking treatment for diminished ovarian reserve and male factor infertility using donor oocyte IVF. INTERVENTION(S) Motile sperm inadvertently decapitated during micromanipulation were used for a modified ICSI procedure in which the midpiece was carefully positioned proximal to the sperm head. Sperm were also analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Fertilization rate, embryo development, pregnancy, and the incidence of normal sperm ultrastructure. RESULT(S) The ICSI resulted in a fertilization rate of 63% and embryo development of good to moderate quality of 36% of the embryos. Transfer of two embryos resulted in a pregnancy and birth of a healthy child. Normal sperm centrosomes were identified retrospectively. CONCLUSION(S) Pregnancy can result in patients where the sperm are decapitated during immobilization before ICSI if normal centrosomes are present and the head and midpiece are positioned closely together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Emery
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA
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15
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Maekawa M, Ito C, Toyama Y, Suzuki-Toyota F, Kimura T, Nakano T, Toshimori K. Stage-specific expression of mouse germ cell-less-1 (mGCL-1), and multiple deformations during mgcl-1 deficient spermatogenesis leading to reduced fertility. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 67:335-47. [PMID: 15700541 DOI: 10.1679/aohc.67.335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A mouse homologue of Drosophila germ cell-less, mouse germ cell-less-1 (mgcl-1), is highly expressed in the testis. Previous report revealed that the fertility of the mgcl-1(-/-) male mice is reduced significantly as a result of various morphological abnormalities in the sperm (Kimura et al., 2003). To elucidate the function of mgcl-1 in spermatogenesis, the expression of mGCL-1 in the wild-type testis was examined. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that mGCL-1 first appeared in the nuclei of the pachytene spermatocytes at stage VI of the seminiferous epithelium, and existed in those of spermatids until step 8 during spermatogenesis. mGCL-1 was not detectable after step 9 spermatids. The testicular cells and epididymal sperm were further analyzed morphologically using mgcl-1(-/-) mice. In the testis, deformed nuclei first occurred in the pachytene spermatocytes at stage VI, which is consistent with the time of the first appearance of the mGCL-1 protein in the wild-type testis. Abnormal nuclei and acrosomes were found in spermatids after step 5, and nuclei of the spermatids and epididymal sperm were frequently invaginated. In addition, variously deformed sperm such as bent-neck, multi-headed or multi-nucleated sperm were observed in the mgcl-1(-/-) cauda epididymidis. However, several key structures such as the acroplaxome marginal ring (Kierszenbaum et al., 2003), postacrosomal sheath, and posterior ring apparently formed. In addition, MN7 and MN13, essential substances for fertilization that are located in sperm heads, were detectable in the mgcl-1 null sperm. These observations provide important insights into the mechanisms regulating the nuclear architecture and causes of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamiko Maekawa
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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16
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Kubo-Irie M, Matsumiya K, Iwamoto T, Kaneko S, Ishijima S. Morphological abnormalities in the spermatozoa of fertile and infertile men. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 70:70-81. [PMID: 15515050 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The morphological analysis of the spermatozoa from fertile and infertile men was performed using light and electron microscopy to clarify the relationship between sperm morphology and fertility. Semen samples obtained from 22 partners of pregnant women were prepared according to the protocol standardized in an international collaborative study. Semen samples from 17 patients with asthenozoospermia or varicocele were collected in a hospital. Abnormalities in the spermatozoa were classified into three types for the tails, two for the midpieces, and six for the heads according to the criteria adapted from WHO guidelines (World Health Organization, 1999: WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction (4th edition)). Approximately 14% of the spermatozoa from the fertile men had abnormal tails at the light microscopic level while approximately 44% had abnormal heads. Most types of abnormalities found in the spermatozoa from the asthenozoospermic and varicocele patients were encountered in those from the fertile men, although the semen from the fertile men contained a higher percentage of normal spermatozoa than that from the patients. These results were also confirmed at the ultrastructural level. Most abnormal cell types are encountered in semen from fertile men, although the incidence of abnormalities is low.
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17
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Toyama Y, Iwamoto T, Yajima M, Baba K, Yuasa S. Decapitated and decaudated spermatozoa in man, and pathogenesis based on the ultrastructure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY 2000; 23:109-15. [PMID: 10762437 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2605.2000.t01-1-00217.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The ultrastructure of decapitated tails and decaudated heads of ejaculated spermatozoa from an infertile man were investigated. The decaudated heads had the nucleus and acrosome, but neither the implantation fossa nor the basal plate were observed at the caudal pole of the nucleus. The nuclear membrane at this portion showed numerous nuclear pores. The decapitated tails contained the proximal centriole at the proximal end. In addition, most decapitated tails had segmented columns, outer coarse fibres, axoneme, mitochondrial sheath and fibrous sheath in the normal position. The ultrastructure reflects the high motility of the decapitated tails of the spermatozoa. Drastic abnormalities were found in the developing spermatids in the biopsied testes. In spermatids later than the Golgi phase, the pair of centrioles were floating in the cytoplasm of the spermatid, but the distal centriole elongated the flagellum. Neither the implantation fossa nor the basal plate were observed at the caudal pole of the nucleus. It is concluded that the tail might be separated from the head before or after completion of tail formation in spermatids. The explanation for why the proximal centriole failed to connect to the nucleus is unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Toyama
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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18
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Kamal A, Mansour R, Fahmy I, Serour G, Rhodes C, Aboulghar M. Easily decapitated spermatozoa defect: a possible cause of unexplained infertility. Hum Reprod 1999; 14:2791-5. [PMID: 10548624 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/14.11.2791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the first 16 cases of a new sperm abnormality which we call 'easily decapitated spermatozoa defect'. This was discovered during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in couples with unexplained infertility. Semen analysis was normal, but minimal micromanipulation for ICSI resulted in decapitation of the spermatozoon during immobilization. For some oocytes the head and tail were injected separately, in others the intact sperm was injected after minimal immobilization. A fertilization rate of 47.5% was obtained using ICSI. Conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF) on sibling oocytes (three cases) or in a previous cycle (three cases) resulted in total failure of fertilization. All patients reached the embryo transfer stage and three pregnancies resulted. Findings on electron microscopy in four cases included spermatozoa with degeneration or absence of the basal plate, abnormalities of the proximal centriole and degeneration of the midpiece with a large cytoplasmic droplet. We conclude that an occult sperm abnormality presenting as easily decapitated spermatozoa during ICSI could be a cause of unexplained infertility, as it resulted in total failure of fertilization in conventional IVF. Further research is necessary to investigate this sperm abnormality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kamal
- The Egyptian IVF-ET Centre, 3 Street 161 Hadaek El-Maadi, Maadi, Cairo 11431 and Cairo University, Egypt
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19
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Saïas-Magnan J, Metzler-Guillemain C, Mercier G, Carles-Marcorelles F, Grillo JM, Guichaoua MR. Failure of pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with decapitated spermatozoa: case report. Hum Reprod 1999; 14:1989-92. [PMID: 10438415 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/14.8.1989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The case of a couple with a history of long standing primary infertility is reported in which the man presented with a decapitated sperm defect. The woman had a normal history and presented with normal clinical characteristics. The couple underwent one unsuccessful conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Subsequently, embryos were obtained and transferred after assisted fertilization attempts: in all, three subzonal inseminations and four intracytoplasmic sperm injections. A total of 49 mature oocytes was injected in both studies, 25 embryos obtained and 20 embryos transferred, three of them after freezing and thawing. Despite the good embryo morphology, implantation was unsuccessful and no pregnancy occurred. The failure of implantation may have resulted from an arrest in early embryonic development related to the sperm anomaly. One hypothesis is that transferred embryos may carry a chromosomal imbalance that prevents them from progressing to the blastocyst stage. Nevertheless, we cannot exclude the possibility that the woman is responsible for the implantation failure. Co-culture associated with a further attempt could provide information regarding the ability of embryos to progress to the blastocyst stage and implant.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Saïas-Magnan
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Pr Luciani, Hôpital de la Conception, 147 Boulevard Baille, 13385 Marseille, Cedex 05, France
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20
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Abstract
A boar with decapitated spermatozoa was examined. The growth rate and libido were normal. The right testis was in the scrotum, but the left one was intra-abdominal. Ejaculated spermatozoa and tissue specimen from both testes were observed by light and electron microscopy. Only tailless heads and headless tails of spermatozoa were observed in the ejaculate. The ratio of heads to tails was about 1:4. Motility of the headless tails was about 25%. The proximal extremity in the tail was occupied by the proximal centriole. The basal plate could not be found in the head or in the tail. Pathogenesis of decapitated spermatozoa in the present case was analysed by investigating spermiogenesis in the scrotal testis. Since the pair of centrioles failed to approach the nucleus, mechanical connection between the proximal centriole and the nucleus did not seem to be established. In addition, the basal plate was not formed on the nuclear membrane. Since the ratio of tailless heads to headless tails was also 1:4 in the testis, it was concluded that the heads had already detached the tails in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Toyama
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan
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21
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Abstract
Ejaculated spermatozoa from an infertile patient were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. All spermatozoa had abnormalities in the tail region. The abnormalities were divided into three types: (a) spermatozoa with a spherical tail. The tail was larger than the head in volume. This type of abnormality accounted for about 60% of the population; (b) spermatozoa with a blunt tail. The tails were about 2 microns in diameter and about 7 microns in length. This type of abnormality accounted for about 30% of the population of an ejaculate; (c) spermatozoa without a tail. Some of these had only a rudimentary tail. About 10% of the population belonged to this type. In types A and B, all components of the tail, except for dynein arms, were observed, but they were severely disarranged. Biopsy specimens of the testes and of the nasal mucosa of this patient were also investigated. The testicular biopsy showed defects in manchette formation. Normal development of the manchette could not be observed. The nasal epithelium showed absence of the inner dynein arms in the cilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Toyama
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan
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