| Head birefringence properties are associated with acrosome reaction, sperm motility and morphology. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22285248 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Birefringence in sperm heads reflects an organized and very compacted texture, indicating nuclear and acrosomal structural normality. This study performed a direct analysis of the acrosome integrity in single spermatozoa to verify whether a pattern of total or partial head birefringence reflected the acrosome status. The morphology in fresh samples was assessed according to World Health Organization criteria while the characteristics of birefringence were evaluated by polarized light. Acrosome integrity was evaluated by fluorescein isothiocyanate Pisum sativum agglutinin that binds selectively to the acrosome content. According to the results, a reacted acrosome was present in 96% of spermatozoa with partial birefringence and only in 35% of those with totally birefringent heads. A great proportion of sperm cells with normal morphology showed total birefringence both in the presence (59%) or in the absence of motility (45%; P<0.01), while in morphologically abnormal spermatozoa the frequency of total birefringence was comparable to that of partial birefringence irrespective of motility (26% and 27%, respectively, in motile spermatozoa; 22% and 19%, respectively, in immotile spermatozoa). These data support a strong association between partial birefringence and reacted acrosome and show that the patterns of birefringence vary depending on sperm motility and morphology. Human sperm cells are naturally birefringent when observed in a polarizing light due to the presence of longitudinally oriented protein filaments. The detection of birefringence in sperm heads reflects an organized and very compacted texture that indicates nuclear and acrosomal structural normality. Basically, three types of head birefringence have been observed: total, partial (localized in the post acrosomal region) and abnormal (absent or irregular). Data from electron microscopy has suggested a correlation between acrosome integrity and birefringence patterns. The aim of this study was to verify this hypothesis by direct analysis of the acrosome status in single spermatozoa. The morphology in fresh samples was assessed according to World Health Organization criteria while the characteristics of birefringence were evaluated by polarized light. Acrosome integrity was evaluated by fluorescein isothiocyanate Pisum sativum agglutinin that binds selectively to the acrosome content. According to the results, 96% of spermatozoa with partial birefringence had a reacted acrosome, while 65% of totally birefringent heads had an intact acrosome. A large proportion of sperm cells with normal morphology showed total birefringence both in the presence (59%) or in the absence of motility (45%; P<0.01), while in morphologically abnormal spermatozoa the frequency of total birefringence was comparable to that of partial birefringence irrespective of motility (26% and 27%, respectively, in motile spermatozoa; 22% and 19%, respectively, in immotile spermatozoa). These data support a strong association between partial birefringence and reacted acrosome and show that the patterns of birefringence vary depending on sperm motility and morphology. |
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Authors:
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M Cristina Magli; Andor Crippa; Luigi Muzii; Erbeha Boudjema; Alessandra Capoti; Giulia Scaravelli; Anna P Ferraretti; Luca Gianaroli |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-1-8 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Reproductive biomedicine online Volume: - ISSN: 1472-6491 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-1-30 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101122473 Medline TA: Reprod Biomed Online Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2012 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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S.I.S.Me.R. - Società Italiana Studi Medicina della Riproduzione, Via Mazzini 12, I-40138 Bologna, Italy. |
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