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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
Published on: April 21, 2022
New fibrous sheath anomaly in spermatozoa of men with consanguinity
Denise Escalier1, Martine Albert
1Functional and Molecular Histology, Paris 5 University, Andrology Laboratory, Hospital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. denise.escalier@univ-paris5.fr
Objective:
The cause of the sperm motility impairment was investigated in infertile men.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
University-based andrology laboratory.
Patients:
Two unrelated consanguineous patients.
Intervention(S):
None.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The sperm flagella lengths were measured using quantitative analysis software and their ultrastructural anomalies were quantitatively recorded.
Result(S):
A total of 67.5% of the flagella were truncated, and 100% lacked the medium region of the ribs of the fibrous sheath.
Conclusion(S):
The data suggested a morphogenetic anomaly at the stage where rib precursors are formed during spermiogenesis. The consanguinity of these patients suggested a genetic origin for this newly discovered anomaly of the human sperm's fibrous sheath. The family tree appears to indicate an autosomal recessive inheritance.
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