title: The nuclear status of human sperm cells.
abstract: In the last decade, and in particular since the development of in vitro fertilization techniques, the nuclear status of human sperm cells has shown to be a key parameter in the assessment of male fertility. The shape and condensed state of the mature sperm nucleus are determined by structural and functional events that occur during spermiogenesis. This paper reviews essential findings on re-organization of the nucleus during sperm differentiation and maturation, and reports recent data on the architecture, biochemical composition and stability of the nucleus in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Different methods used to evaluate nuclear maturity in relation to male fertility are critically appraised.
authors.affiliation: Groupe d'Etude de la Formation et de la Maturation du Gamète Mâle, (Laboratoire de Cytologie et Histologie), JE MESR 349, U.F.R. Biomédicale des Saints-Pères, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dadoune
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004220:Disulfides / Q000032:analysis; D005298:Fertility; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011479:Protamines / Q000378:metabolism; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004220:Disulfides; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011479:Protamines; D004247:DNA