title: Selectivity of the human sperm-zona pellucida binding process to sperm head morphometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain quantitative measures of morphometric selectivity of the human spermzona pellucida binding process as determined by light microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fully automated sperm head morphometric based on a 32-dimensional parameterization of images of Shorr-stained sperm. Zona pellucida selected sperm removed from reinseminated oocytes that previously failed IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research group associated with a tertiary infertility service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples from 51 infertile patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in morphometric parameter means observed before and after swim-up and binding to zonae pellucidae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between insemination and bound sperm were observed in 17 parameter means and 21 standard deviations. The sperm-zona pellucida binding process preferentially selects sperm heads with a large anterior region with relatively low optical density, as well as high axial symmetry and minimal neck anomalies. Bias against sperm with pyriform morphology was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A causal link has been established between sperm head morphometry, particularly within the acrosomal region, and the ability of sperm to bind to the human zona pellucida. As sperm-zona binding is necessary for fertility, it is possible to derive a physiologically based assessment for clinical diagnosis of male infertility using the "zona-preferred" morphometry results.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036292:pea lectin