This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Perotti, M.-E. Articles by Gioria, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Perotti, M.-E. Articles by Gioria, M.

Ultrastructural study of the decapitated sperm defect in an infertile man

Summary. An infertile man presented a spermiogram in which 100% of the spermatozoa displayed separation of head from tail at the level of the proximal centriole. Most tails were normally structured and ended anteriorly with the proximal centriole covered by a continuous plasma membrane. In a small percentage of tails a rudimentary connecting piece was surrounded by a minute cytoplasmic mass and the middle piece was missing, whereas the chromatoid body and the spindle-shaped body were still present. Finally, a few tails had a large cytoplasmic mass surrounding either regular connecting and middle pieces or a rudimentary connecting piece continuous with the main piece. Tails of the first type had good forward motility, although the pattern of movement appeared altered. The other types were immotile or motile but without forward progression. In the loose heads the implantation fossa had failed to differentiate. The separation of heads from tails appeared to be the result of a specific morphogenetic defect and took place at different stages of spermatid differentiation, giving rise to the structurally different types of tails.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Porcu, G. Mercier, P. Boyer, V. Achard, J. Banet, M. Vasserot, C. Melone, J. Saias-Magnan, C. D'Ercole, C. Chau, et al. Pregnancies after ICSI using sperm with abnormal head-tail junction from two brothers: Case report Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2003; 18(3): 562 - 567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V.Y. Rawe, Y. Terada, S. Nakamura, C.F. Chillik, S.B. Olmedo, and H.E. Chemes A pathology of the sperm centriole responsible for defective sperm aster formation, syngamy and cleavage Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2002; 17(9): 2344 - 2349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kamal, R. Mansour, I. Fahmy, G. Serour, C. Rhodes, and M. Aboulghar Easily decapitated spermatozoa defect: a possible cause of unexplained infertility Hum. Reprod., November 1, 1999; 14(11): 2791 - 2795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Saias-Magnan, C. Metzler-Guillemain, G. Mercier, F. Carles-Marcorelles, J.M. Grillo, and M.R. Guichaoua Failure of pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with decapitated spermatozoa: Case report Hum. Reprod., August 1, 1999; 14(8): 1989 - 1992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H.E. Chemes, E.T. Puigdomenech, C. Carizza, S. B. Olmedo, F. Zanchetti, and R. Hermes Acephalic spermatozoa and abnormal development of the head–neck attachment: a human syndrome of genetic origin Hum. Reprod., July 1, 1999; 14(7): 1811 - 1818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]