A "miniacrosome" sperm defect causing infertility in two brothers.
A sperm defect causing infertility in two brothers is described. The malformation, named the "miniacrosome sperm defect," occurs in the total sperm population. It involves both the nuclei, which have a roundish apex, and the acrosomes, which are small, located in an apical position on the top of the nucleus, and sometimes ring-shaped. The midpiece and tail segments are normal, and the sperm are perfectly motile but fail to fertilize zona-free hamster ova in vitro. In spermatids, the absence of a microtubular manchette and reduction of the Golgi complex are evident.
Baccetti
B
B
Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
Burrini
A G
AG
Collodel
G
G
Piomboni
P
P
Renieri
T
T
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions