A mutation study of sperm head shape and motility in the mouse: lessons for the clinic

Andrology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. de Boer ◽  
M. de Vries ◽  
L. Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Head ◽  
Head Shape

267 DIFFERENCES IN BULL SPERM NUCLEAR SHAPE BETWEEN FLOW-SORTED AND NON-SORTED SPERM USING FOURIER HARMONIC ANALYSIS

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
J. R. Schindler ◽  
R. L. Monson ◽  
K. L. Willenburg ◽  
J. J. Parrish
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Axis ◽  
Sperm Nucleus ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Nuclear Shape ◽  
Harmonic Amplitude ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Hoechst 33342 ◽  
Fourier Harmonic ◽  
Frozen Semen ◽  
Sorting Process

The objective of the study was to evaluate sperm nuclear shape in sex-sorted and non-sorted semen using Fourier Harmonic Amplitudes (FHA). Frozen semen was obtained from a single commercially available source. Mature bulls (n = 15) from the same breed with an average age of 4.42 ± 2.08 years were collected and the semen was either frozen or X-chromosome sorted using a flow cytometer and then frozen. Frozen straws were transported to the lab and analyzed for FHA. Briefly, straws were thawed and cells were incubated with 1.6 μm Hoechst 33342. Cells were then washed, fixed, dried to a slide and analyzed for nuclear head shape. Harmonic amplitudes 0 to 5 (HA0–HA5), derived from FHA, were previously shown to be an accurate, objective, and repeatable measure of sperm nuclear shape. HA0 describes the overall nuclear size of the sperm, whereas HA1 describes the anterior head, HA2 the length of the sperm along the longitudinal axis, and HA3 to 5 the distal, post-nuclear curvature of the sperm head. Each unit of semen was evaluated for motility and FHA. There was a significant decrease in motility in the sorted group (77 ± 1% v. 54 ± 3%; P < 0.0001). Multivariate ANOVA showed that there were differences between the sorted and non-sorted groups in HA1 to 4 (P < 0.02). Harmonic amplitude means ± SD (microns) for sorted and non-sorted treatments are as follows: HA1 (0.117 ± 0.003 v. 0.109 ± 0.003), HA2 (1.087 ± 0.005 v. 1.063 ± 0.005), HA3 (0.139 ± 0.003 v. 0.130 ± 0.003), and HA4 (0.201 ± 0.004 v. 0.191 ± 0.004), respectively. The nuclear shape of X-sorted sperm is longer and more pinched in both the anterior and posterior head. Interestingly there was no difference in HA0 (P = 0.119) indicating that the overall size of the sperm head is not affected by the sorting process. The differences in harmonic amplitudes may be due to the size and a restricted location of the X v. Y chromosome in the sperm nucleus.

scholarly journals Sexual selection on protamine and transition nuclear protein expression in mouse species

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1783) ◽  
pp. 20133359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Lüke ◽  
Polly Campbell ◽  
María Varea Sánchez ◽  
Michael W. Nachman ◽  
Eduardo R. S. Roldan
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Nuclear Protein ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Nuclear Proteins ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Mouse Species ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Protamine 2

Post-copulatory sexual selection in the form of sperm competition is known to influence the evolution of male reproductive proteins in mammals. The relationship between sperm competition and regulatory evolution, however, remains to be explored. Protamines and transition nuclear proteins are involved in the condensation of sperm chromatin and are expected to affect the shape of the sperm head. A hydrodynamically efficient head allows for fast swimming velocity and, therefore, more competitive sperm. Previous comparative studies in rodents have documented a significant association between the level of sperm competition (as measured by relative testes mass) and DNA sequence evolution in both the coding and promoter sequences of protamine 2. Here, we investigate the influence of sexual selection on protamine and transition nuclear protein mRNA expression in the testes of eight mouse species that differ widely in levels of sperm competition. We also examined the relationship between relative gene expression levels and sperm head shape, assessed using geometric morphometrics. We found that species with higher levels of sperm competition express less protamine 2 in relation to protamine 1 and transition nuclear proteins. Moreover, there was a significant association between relative protamine 2 expression and sperm head shape. Reduction in the relative abundance of protamine 2 may increase the competitive ability of sperm in mice, possibly by affecting sperm head shape. Changes in gene regulatory sequences thus seem to be the basis of the evolutionary response to sexual selection in these proteins.

Identification of sperm morphometric subpopulations in the canine ejaculate: do they reflect different subpopulations in sperm chromatin integrity?

Zygote ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Núñez-Martinez ◽  
J.M. Moran ◽  
F.J. Peña
Keyword(s):  
Semen Quality ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Dna Integrity ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Shape Factors

SummaryA statistical approach using sequentially principal component analysis (PCA) clustering and discriminant analysis was developed to disclose morphometric sperm subpopulations. In addition, we used a similar approach to disclose subpopulations of spermatozoa with different degrees of DNA fragmentation. It is widely accepted that sperm morphology is a strong indicator of semen quality and since the sperm head mainly comprises the sperm DNA, it has been proposed that subtle changes in sperm head morphology may be related to abnormal DNA content. Semen from four mongrel dogs (five replicates per dog) were used to investigate DNA quality by means of the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and for computerized sperm morphometry (ASMA). Each sperm head was measured for nine primary parameters: head area (A), head perimeter (P), head length (L), head width (W), acrosome area (%), midpiece width (w), midpiece area (a), distance (d) between the major axes of the head and midpiece, angle (θ) of divergence of the midpiece from the head axis; and four parameters of head shape: FUN1 (L/W), FUN2 (4π A/P2), FUN3 ((L – W)/(L + W)) and FUN 4 (π LW/4A). The data matrix consisted of 2361 observations, (morphometric analysis on individual spermatozoa) and 63 815 observations for the DNA integrity. The PCA analysis revealed five variables with Eigen values over 1, representing more than 79% of the cumulative variance. The morphometric data revealed five sperm subpopulations, while the DNA data gave six subpopulations of spermatozoa with different DNA integrity. Significant differences were found in the percentage of spermatozoa falling in each cluster among dogs (p < 0.05). Linear regression models including sperm head shape factors 2, 3 and 4 predicted the amount of denatured DNA within each individual spermatozoon (p < 0.001). We conclude that the ASMA analysis can be considered a powerful tool to improve the spermiogram.

scholarly journals Predictive Capacity of Boar Sperm Morphometry and Morphometric Sub-Populations on Reproductive Success after Artificial Insemination

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 920
Author(s):  
Vinicio Barquero ◽  
Eduardo R. S. Roldan ◽  
Carles Soler ◽  
Jesús L. Yániz ◽  
Marlen Camacho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Shape And Size

The aim of the study was to compare the morphometric features of sperm head size and shape from the Pietrain line and the Duroc × Pietrain boar crossbred terminal lines, and to evaluate their relationship with reproductive success after artificial insemination of sows produced from crossbreeding the York, Landrace and Pietrain breeds. Semen samples were collected from 11 sexually mature boars. Only ejaculates with greater than 70% motility rate and < 15% of abnormal sperm were used for artificial inseminations (AI) and included in the study. Samples were analyzed using an ISAS®v1 computer-assisted sperm analysis system for eight morphometric parameters of head shape and size (CASA-Morph). Sub-populations of morphometric ejaculates were characterized using multivariate procedures, such as principal component (PC) analysis and clustering methods (k-means model). Four different ejaculate sub-populations were identified from two PCs that involved the head shape and size of the spermatozoa. The discriminant ability of the different morphometric sperm variables to predict sow litter size was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Sperm head length, ellipticity, elongation, and regularity showed significant predictive capacity on litter size (0.59, 0.59, 0.60, and 0.56 area under curve (AUC), respectively). The morphometric sperm sub-populations were not related to sow litter size.

Variation of sperm head shape and tail length in a species of Australian hydromyine rodent: the spinifex hopping mouse, Notomys alexis

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 797 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bauer ◽  
W. G. Breed
Keyword(s):  
Tail Length ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Filamentous Actin ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Sperm Tail ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Murid Rodents ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
High Degree

In Australia, there are around 60 species of murid rodents that occur in the subfamily Hydromyinae, most of which produce highly complex, monomorphic, spermatozoa in which the head has an apical hook together with two ventral processes containing filamentous actin and a long tail of species-specific length. One of the few exceptions to this is the spinifex hopping mouse, Notomys alexis, whose spermatozoa have previously been shown to have pleiomorphic heads. In this study, the structural organisation of the sperm head has been investigated in more detail and the variability in length of the midpiece and total length of the sperm tail has been determined for this species. The findings confirm that pleiomorphic sperm heads are invariably present in these animals and that this variability is associated with that of the nucleus, although nuclear vacuoles were not evident. The total length of the sperm tail, as well as that of the midpiece, was also highly variable both within, as well as between, individual animals. The reason(s) for this high degree of variability in sperm morphology is not known but it may relate to a relaxation of the genetic control of sperm form owing to depressed levels of inter-male sperm competition.

scholarly journals Geometric Morphometrics of Rodent Sperm Head Shape

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e80607 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Varea Sánchez ◽  
Markus Bastir ◽  
Eduardo R. S. Roldan
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Head Shape

Evolution of the Spermatozoon in Australasian Rodents

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Breed
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Head ◽  
Anterior Region ◽  
Concave Surface ◽  
Evolutionary Trends ◽  
Filamentous Actin ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Structural Organisation ◽  
Murid Rodents ◽  
Mammalian Spermatozoon

The head of the spermatozoon in eutherian mammals contains a nucleus, acrosomal cap and cytoskeleton. It is generally spatulate, paddle-shaped or pear-shaped, but in most murid rodents it is hook-shaped with the anterior region of the nucleus surrounded by an elaborate acrosome and an extension of the subacrosomal cytoskeleton as a perforatorium. This type of spermatozoon is present in Australasian Rattus, together with several other New Guinean genera. However, in most Australasian hydromyine rodents a far greater complexity of structural organisation of the sperm head has evolved in which two further elaborate processes extend from its upper concave surface. These processes contain a huge extension of the cytoskeleton within which filamentous actin is present. By contrast, the form of the sperm head in a few species of Pseudomys, Notomys and Solomys is highly divergent and is either truncated, spatulate or pear- shaped. The evolutionary trends of change in sperm head shape are discussed and it is suggested that the falciform sperm head with the two extra processes in most of the hydromyine rodents is one of the most morphologically complex sperm head types to have evolved in eutherian mammals; it contains a far more extensive development of the cytoskeleton than that of any other mammalian spermatozoon.

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