title: Ultrastructural evaluation of semen to assess effects of exposure to toxicants.
abstract: Conventional light microscopic evaluation of a semen ejaculate does not fully utilize potential indicators of functional impairment in sperm organelles. The technique described here facilitates critical evaluation of morphological features of spermatozoal organelles at an ultrastructural level and helps identify vulnerable targets. Compared with a battery of sperm function assays employed in andrology clinics, this relatively less expensive technique efficiently uses semen as biopsy material and thus serves as a comprehensive means to assess the impact of toxicants on the male reproductive system.
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1683, USA. rao@colostate.edu
authors.forename: D N Rao
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Veeramachaneni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*