[Round-headed spermatozoa: a rare andrologic finding ("globe-headed spermatozoa", "globozoospermia")].
The case of an infertile patient is reported who had 100% round-headed ("globe-headed") spermatozoa without acrosomes in his ejaculate. The spermatozoa were studied by light and phase contrast microscopy, as well as by transmission and--for the first time--by scanning electron microscopy. Determination of acrosin showed no enzyme activity. We propose the term "globozoospermia" for this condition which was first described in 1971. It is discussed whether it may be considered as a symptom or a distinct disease.
D000176:Acrosin / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology*
D005632:Fructose; D000176:Acrosin
Rundköpfige Spermatozoen: Ein seltener andrologischer Befund ("Kugelkopfspermatozoen", "Globozoospermie")