title: Clinical and structural features of sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programme.
abstract: The human sperm head vacuoles and their role in male infertility are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and ultrastructural features of human sperm head vacuoles in men included in the in vitro fertilization programme: men with normal (normozoospermia) and impaired sperm morphology (teratozoospermia). The sperm samples were observed under 6000-time magnification using motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). The proportion of sperm with head vacuoles was evaluated and related to the outcome of in vitro fertilization. The sperm of men with impaired sperm morphology was characterized by a higher proportion of sperm head vacuoles. The sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired semen quality (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology) but were not influenced by male factors (semen volume, height, age, weight, or body mass index). Moreover, sperm head vacuoles were related to impaired fertilization rate merely after classical in vitro fertilization (IVF), while there was no relation to pregnancy. In a subgroup of men, the sperm was fixed and observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural study revealed that sperm head vacuoles are large nuclear indentations of various sizes and positions, packed with membranous material organized in membrane whorls (MW).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4484-1875
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fekonja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Štrus
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ; National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tušek Žnidarič
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knez
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vrtacnik Bokal
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6249-5799
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verdenik
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Virant-Klun
mesh_terms: D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure*