title: Crater defect in human spermatozoa.
abstract: 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.
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: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Magnano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sensini
mesh_terms: 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