The aim of this study is to underline the role of transmission and scanning electron microscopy analysis in the diagnosis of human sperm pathologies. Among the possible causes of male infertility, defects of sperm morphology represent an important factor that may explain decreased fertilizing potential of sperm. Electron microscopy allowed us to identify systematic sperm defects that affect the...

The quality of sperm has a direct influence on the fertilization and developmental competence of embryos. In the literature we did not find defined criteria for evaluation of normal sperm parameters in various species of domestic mammals. Therefore we attempted to review evaluation of criteria of morphologically normal human sperm and their abnormalities. All sperm cells observed in the stained...

BACKGROUND Spermatogenesis and fertilization are highly unique processes. Discovery and characterization of germ cell-specific genes are important for the understanding of these reproductive processes. We investigated eight proteins encoded by novel spermatogenic cell-specific genes previously identified from the mouse round spermatid UniGene library. METHODS Polyclonal antibodies were genera...

PH-20 protein on the plasma membrane (PH-20PM) is restricted to the posterior head of acrosome-intact guinea pig sperm. During the exocytotic acrosome reaction the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM) becomes continuous with the posterior head plasma membrane, and PH-20PM migrates to the IAM. There it joins a second population of PH-20 protein localized to this region of the acrosomal membrane (PH-20...

Approximately 8 percent of couples in the World have problem with offspring production. Male infertility, which is the reason of the half of reproduction failures, is connected with diminished sperm production and deterioration of its quality. One important factor which affects fertility is the appearance of DNA damage in germ cells leading to enhanced frequency of mutations. This study aimed t...