Evaluation of Stallion Sperm Morphology

One of the unifying traits of life on this planet is reproduction, or life's ability to make copies of itself. The mode of reproduction has evolved over time, having almost certainly begun with simple asexual reproduction when the ancestral single celled organism divided into two. Since these beginnings' life has tried out numerous strategies, and perhaps one of the most important and successful has been sexual reproduction. This form of reproduction relies on the union of gametes, otherwise known as sperm and egg. Evolutionarily, sexual reproduction allows for greater adaptive potential because the genes of two unique individuals have a chance to recombine and mix in order to produce a new individual. Unlike asexual reproduction which produces genetically-identical clones of the parent individual, sex produces offspring with novel genes and combinations of genes. Therefore, in the face of new selective pressures there is a higher chance that one of these novel genetic profiles will produce an adaptation that is advantageous in the new circumstances. Dr Akihiko Watanabe is a reproductive biologist based in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Yamagata University in Japan, he is currently working on three research projects; a comparative study on the signalling pathways for inducing sperm motility and acrosome reaction in amphibians, the mechanism behind the adaptive modification of sperm morphology and motility, and the origin of sperm motility initiating substance (SMIS).

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Sperm Morphology: Does It Have Predictive Value for In Vitro Fertilization?

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-2007-1018813 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 11 (01) ◽

pp. 17-26

Author(s):

Lynn Fraser ◽

Shaona DasGupta

Keyword(s):

In Vitro Fertilization ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Sperm Morphology ◽

Vitro Fertilization

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The Analysis of Mobile Platform based CNN Networks in the Classification of Sperm Morphology

2020 Medical Technologies Congress (TIPTEKNO) ◽

10.1109/tiptekno50054.2020.9299281 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Omer Lutfu Tortumlu ◽

Hamza Osman Ilhan

Keyword(s):

Sperm Morphology ◽

Mobile Platform

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Expression of Apoptosis-Related Genes in Cat Testicular Tissue in Relation to Sperm Morphology and Seasonality—A Preliminary Study

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020489 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 489

Author(s):

Sylwia Prochowska ◽

Agnieszka Partyka ◽

Wojciech Niżański

Keyword(s):

Sperm Morphology ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Testicular Tissue ◽

Reproductive Season ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Testicular Regression ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Apoptotic Genes

Apoptosis is a crucial process in spermatogenesis, responsible for the elimination of abnormal sperm cells and testicular regression out of breeding season. The aim of this study was to assess if the expression of apoptosis-related genes in testicular tissue of domestic cats differed: (1) between normozoospermic and teratozoospermic donors, and (2) between reproductive and non-reproductive season. The expression of genes: BCL2L1, BCL2, BAX, BAD, FAS, FASLG, and caspases (CASP3, CASP8, CASP9, and CASP10) was analyzed by qRT-PCR in testicular tissue samples. During non-reproductive season significantly higher expression of two anti-apoptotic genes (BCL2L1 and BCL2) was observed. Additionally, there was a significant higher expression of CASP10 in teratozoospermic cats during non-reproductive than during reproductive season. No differences were noted between normozoospermic and teratozoospermic groups. Upregulation of some genes during the non-reproductive season indicates engagement of apoptotic mechanisms in the seasonal changes of semen quality in cats, however further studies on protein levels and analysis of changes on distinct testicular germinal layers are required. At the same time, teratozoospermia in the general population of cats seems to be not connected with dysregulation of apoptosis in the testes.

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Correlation between the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and sperm morphology of infertile patients

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics ◽

10.1007/s10815-021-02080-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alberto Ferrigno ◽

Giovanni Ruvolo ◽

Giuseppina Capra ◽

Nicola Serra ◽

Liana Bosco

Keyword(s):

Dna Fragmentation ◽

Sperm Morphology ◽

Seminal Fluid ◽

Image Analyzer ◽

Fragmented Dna ◽

Fragmentation Index ◽

Group A ◽

Group B ◽

Infertile Patients ◽

Dna Fragmentation Index

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the correlation between the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) and sperm morphology in patients undergoing ICSI, as a predictive parameter in reproductive outcomes. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 125 infertile patients enrolled in a fertility clinic. Seminal characteristics were measured following the WHO guidelines (2010) for the examination of the seminal fluid. After collecting motile sperm population by pellet swim up, DFI was calculated and simultaneously associated with sperm morphology using in situ TUNEL assay and an image analyzer software in at least 250 spermatozoa for each patient. Results All subjects were divided into two groups according to a cutoff established, by choice, of the sperm DFI (15%): group A (< 15%) consisting of 65 patients and group B (≥ 15%) of 60 patients. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods. The results demonstrate that there is no statistical difference between the two groups in seminal characteristics. The collective data show a high significant correlation, suggesting that spermatozoa with abnormal morphology are the best candidates to contain DNA damage (p < 0.001). Also, when group A is compared with group B, an increased percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa with fragmented DNA was observed in patients, with DFI values ≥ 15% (p < 0.001). Conclusion These results are aimed at providing an exact value of DFI in morphologically normal spermatozoa, which will be helpful to the embryologist in evaluating the risk of transferring, during the ICSI procedure, a spermatozoon whit normal morphology but fragmented DNA.

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Novel variants in DNAH9 lead to nonsyndromic severe asthenozoospermia

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ◽

10.1186/s12958-021-00709-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dongdong Tang ◽

Yanwei Sha ◽

Yang Gao ◽

Jingjing Zhang ◽

Huiru Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sanger Sequencing ◽

Sperm Morphology ◽

Immunofluorescence Staining ◽

Compound Heterozygous ◽

Sperm Tail ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Whole Exome ◽

Detailed Medical History ◽

Novel Variants ◽

Common Causes

Abstract Background Asthenozoospermia is one of the most common causes of male infertility, and its genetic etiology is poorly understood. DNAH9 is a core component of outer dynein arms in cilia and flagellum. It was reported that variants of DNAH9 (OMIM: 603330) might cause primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). However, variants in DNAH9 lead to nonsyndromic severe asthenozoospermia have yet to be reported. Methods Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed for two individuals with nonsyndromic severe asthenozoospermia from two non-consanguineous families, and Sanger sequencing was performed to verify the identified variants and parental origins. Sperm routine analysis, sperm vitality rate and sperm morphology analysis were performed according the WHO guidelines 2010 (5th edition). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, TECNAI-10, 80 kV, Philips, Holland) was used to observe ultrastructures of sperm tail. Quantitative realtime-PCR and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the expression of DNAH9-mRNA and location of DNAH9-protein. Furthermore, assisted reproductive procedures were applied. Results By WES and Sanger sequencing, compound heterozygous DNAH9 (NM_001372.4) variants were identified in the two individuals with nonsyndromic severe asthenozoospermia (F1 II-1: c.302dupT, p.Leu101fs*47 / c.6956A > G, p.Asp2319Gly; F2 II-1: c.6294 T > A, p.Phe2098Leu / c.10571 T > A, p.Leu3524Gln). Progressive rates less than 1% with normal sperm morphology rates and normal vitality rates were found in both of the two subjects. No respiratory phenotypes, situs inversus or other malformations were found by detailed medical history, physical examination and lung CT scans etc. Moreover, the expression of DNAH9-mRNA was significantly decreased in sperm from F1 II-1. And expression of DNAH9 is lower in sperm tail by immunofluorescence staining in F1 II-1 compared with normal control. Notably, by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), F1 II-1 and his partner successfully achieved clinical pregnancy. Conclusions We identified DNAH9 as a novel pathogenic gene for nonsyndromic severe asthenospermia, and ICSI can contribute to favorable pregnancy outcomes for these patients.

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