Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Short communication
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-09-05
Morphological and functional evaluation of spermatozoa from patients with asthenoteratozoospermia
Małgorzata Piasecka, Maria Laszczyńska, Dariusz Gączarzewicz
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):479-481.
Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-09-05
Abstract
In several cases of asthenoteratozoospermia, electron microscopic investigation
displayed immature sperm forms, morphological apoptotic patterns of spermatozoa
and many cytoplasmic conglomerates with fragments of the sperm. In
these patients, TUNEL assay showed a high percentage of spermatozoa with
nuclear DNA fragmentation. Moreover, thickened and deformed midpieces were
observed which contained supernumerary and redundant mitochondria with
normal oxidoreductive capability and normal membrane potential. In these cases
a high percentage of spermatozoa with normal ΔΨm was detected. Nevertheless,
a subpopulation of patients was found with an abnormal ultrastructure
of sperm mitochondria and with a low percentage of spermatozoa with normal
ΔΨm. These findings indicate that low motility of spermatozoa may be related
to abnormal morphogenesis of the midpiece containing functional mitochondria
and that this may be a possible consequence of an apoptotic mechanism. Furthermore,
our results show that asthenoteratozoospermia may result from dysfunction
of sperm mitochondria and/or with alternations of the structures involved in
sperm motility, i.e. the dense outer fibres, the fibrous sheath and the axoneme.
Abstract
In several cases of asthenoteratozoospermia, electron microscopic investigation
displayed immature sperm forms, morphological apoptotic patterns of spermatozoa
and many cytoplasmic conglomerates with fragments of the sperm. In
these patients, TUNEL assay showed a high percentage of spermatozoa with
nuclear DNA fragmentation. Moreover, thickened and deformed midpieces were
observed which contained supernumerary and redundant mitochondria with
normal oxidoreductive capability and normal membrane potential. In these cases
a high percentage of spermatozoa with normal ΔΨm was detected. Nevertheless,
a subpopulation of patients was found with an abnormal ultrastructure
of sperm mitochondria and with a low percentage of spermatozoa with normal
ΔΨm. These findings indicate that low motility of spermatozoa may be related
to abnormal morphogenesis of the midpiece containing functional mitochondria
and that this may be a possible consequence of an apoptotic mechanism. Furthermore,
our results show that asthenoteratozoospermia may result from dysfunction
of sperm mitochondria and/or with alternations of the structures involved in
sperm motility, i.e. the dense outer fibres, the fibrous sheath and the axoneme.
Keywords
spermatozoa; morphology; mitochondria; DNA integrity; apoptosis
Title
Morphological and functional evaluation of spermatozoa from patients with asthenoteratozoospermia
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Article type
Short communication
Pages
479-481
Published online
2003-09-05
Page views
535
Article views/downloads
1856
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):479-481.
Keywords
spermatozoa
morphology
mitochondria
DNA integrity
apoptosis
Authors
Małgorzata Piasecka
Maria Laszczyńska
Dariusz Gączarzewicz