title: Mitochondrial DNA content of human spermatozoa.
abstract: Sperm mitochondria play an important role in spermatozoa because of the high ATP demand of these cells. Different mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and haplogroups influence sperm function. The mtDNA dose also contributes to genetic variability and pathology in different tissues and organs, but nothing is known about its relevance in the performance of spermatozoa. We estimated the variability in mtDNA content within a population of men. Different mtDNA:nuclear DNA ratios were characteristic of progressive and nonprogressive spermatozoa, confirming the influence of mtDNA content on sperm functionality. We also estimated that the absolute content of mtDNA was 700 and 1200 mtDNA copies per cell in progressive and nonprogressive human spermatozoa, respectively. These results suggest that a marked increase of mtDNA copy number per cell volume takes place during spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Pesini
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lapeña
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: Acisclo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martos
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Enríquez
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López-Pérez
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial