Crater defect in human spermatozoa.
This report describes the "crater defect" in human spermatozoa, a malformation that consists of a nuclear and acrosomal invagination present in 100% of the cells, whereas tail structure and motility are fairly normal. The defect occurs during spermiogenesis. A possible concomitance with abnormalities in the microtubular apparatus involved in the sperm molding is discussed.
Baccetti
B
B
Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
Burrini
A G
AG
Collodel
G
G
Magnano
A R
AR
Piomboni
P
P
Renieri
T
T
Sensini
C
C
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure