title: Ultrastructural investigation of human sperm using atomic force microscopy.
abstract: Ultrastructural investigation of human sperm in its natural environment (without fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, etc.) was carried out by using atomic force microscope (AFM) in its tapping mode. This technique permits the examination of fine structural details of undamaged sperm and its topography with precision. Moreover, it allows 3D reconstruction of images and enhances the contrast to resolve details such as mitochondria that surround the axoneme at the sperm middle piece. An organized structure has been found in the flageller axoneme region. Ultrastructure also reveals folding and details of the depression of the membrane that cannot be examined with conventional techniques.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiologia de la Conducta, Facultad de Medicina, University of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela. joshi@ciens.ula.ve
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colasante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osuna
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*