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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...

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Updated: May 25, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
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Heated spermatozoa: effects on embryonic development and epigenetics.

Shi-Bin Chao1, Lei Guo, Xiang-Hong Ou

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|February 9, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Mouse sperm can withstand high temperatures, but heat damages sperm chromatin integrity. Temperatures up to 80°C allow for live offspring production, demonstrating a critical threshold for sperm function after heat exposure.

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Zygotic Fluorescence Recovery After Photo-bleaching Analysis for Chromatin Looseness That Allows Full-term Development

Published on: June 12, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Sperm Physiology
  • Chromatin Structure

Background:

  • Sperm chromatin exhibits high condensation and resistance to physical and chemical treatments.
  • Understanding the thermal tolerance limits of sperm is crucial for reproductive technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the maximum temperature mouse sperm can tolerate while still enabling the production of live offspring.
  • To investigate the impact of heat stress on sperm chromatin integrity and function.

Main Methods:

  • Mouse sperm were exposed to temperatures of 50°C, 65°C, 80°C, or 95°C for 30 minutes.
  • Sperm were then microinjected into oocytes for assessment of fertilization, embryo development, and karyotype.
  • Epigenetic reprogramming markers (DNA methylation, histone H3K4-trimethylation) were analyzed via immunofluorescence.

Main Results:

  • Sperm's ability to activate oocytes was heat-sensitive, with only 20% activation at 50°C and none at 80°C.
  • Live offspring were produced from sperm heated to 80°C (with artificial egg activation), but 95°C prevented sperm decondensation.
  • Aberrant chromosome rates increased significantly from 16.3% to 100% as temperatures rose from 50°C to 95°C.

Conclusions:

  • Heat treatment compromises sperm chromatin integrity in a temperature-dependent manner.
  • 80°C represents the highest temperature at which mouse sperm can be heated and still result in live offspring production.
  • Despite thermal damage, post-pronucleus formation, sperm chromatin can undergo normal demethylation and methylation processes.