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Related Concept Videos

Infertility in Males01:23

Infertility in Males

Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...
Spermatogenesis01:22

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
Sperm Transport01:15

Sperm Transport

The journey of sperm from its origin to the point of ejaculation begins within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Here, Sertoli cells produce fluid that propels non-motile sperm through a series of conduits, starting with the straight tubules leading to the rete testis. This interconnected network of tubules acts as the initial pathway for sperm, guiding them into the efferent ductules and then into the epididymis for maturation.
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
08:48

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects

Published on: April 21, 2022

Sperm DNA damage in men from infertile couples.

Juris Erenpreiss1, Saad Elzanaty, Aleksander Giwercman

  • 1Andrology Laboratory, Riga Stradins University, LV 1007 Riga, Latvia. jerenpreiss@gmail.com

Asian Journal of Andrology
|July 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary

High sperm DNA damage is common in infertile men, even with normal semen analysis. The Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) can identify this damage, aiding infertility diagnosis and guiding assisted reproductive technology (ART) choices.

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Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) Protocol in Human Sperm
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Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) Protocol in Human Sperm

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Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
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Published on: April 21, 2022

U-Shaped Horizontal Swimming Technique for Preparing High-Quality Sperm with Low DNA Fragmentation Index
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Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) Protocol in Human Sperm
16:19

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) Protocol in Human Sperm

Published on: September 1, 2009

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Andrology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Sperm DNA damage is a significant factor in male infertility.
  • Standard semen parameters do not always reflect the extent of sperm DNA fragmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of high sperm DNA damage in infertile men with normal and abnormal semen parameters.
  • To evaluate the utility of the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) in diagnosing infertility.

Main Methods:

  • 350 men from infertile couples were assessed.
  • Standard semen analysis was performed.
  • Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) was used to measure DNA fragmentation index (DFI).

Main Results:

  • 28% of men had a DFI > 20%, and 12% had a DFI > 30%.
  • Men with abnormal semen parameters showed higher DFI rates (35% > 20%, 16% > 30%) compared to those with normal parameters (15% > 20%, 5% > 30%).
  • Low sperm motility and abnormal morphology were significantly associated with higher DFI.

Conclusions:

  • Nearly one-third of infertile men exhibit sperm DNA damage levels that can impair fertility.
  • SCSA can identify high sperm DNA damage in men with normal semen analysis, aiding in unexplained infertility cases.
  • SCSA results can guide the selection of appropriate assisted reproductive techniques (ART).