title: Ultrastructural pathology of varicocele spermatozoa by using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
abstract: Ultrastructural investigation of pathological spermatozoa of patients having varicocele (grades I and III) in its natural environment (without fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, etc.) was carried out by using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) in tapping mode. This is a unique technique to examine the topographical structure with precision and to obtain 3-D images. It revealed structural alterations caused by the presence of varicocele. Not only neckpieces and flagella were defective, but also the head; particularly, dimensions and heights are altered.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiologia de la Conducta, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de 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: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Osuna
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000473:pathology*