Probing the Structure and Function of Mammalian Sperm using Optical and Fluorescence Microscopy

Different aspects of sperm function can be monitored with a wide array of microscopy techniques, from simple optical microscopy to sophisticated fluorescence microscopy (epifluorescence and confocal), and the level of analysis may be adjusted and complemented according to specific needs. Cursory assessments involving sperm number and motility can be easily performed, while more detailed analyses regarding the status of sperm DNA and mitochondria, or the presence of possible apoptotic markers requires more elaborate protocols. Herein, we detail several methods routinely used to probe sperm structure and function, using a variety of microscopy techniques.