title: A "miniacrosome" sperm defect causing infertility in two brothers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baccetti
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Burrini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Collodel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renieri
mesh_terms: 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