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Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
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Sperm parameters, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis in total globozoospermia
Jalal Ghasemzadeh1, Ali Reza Talebi1, Mohammad Ali Khalili1
1International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|November 17, 2015
Summary
Globozoospermia, a rare infertility cause, shows significantly higher sperm DNA damage and apoptosis compared to normal sperm. These factors, alongside the acrosome absence, contribute to infertility in affected men.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Andrology
- Spermatozoa Research
Background:
- Globozoospermia is a severe teratozoospermia form (<0.1% incidence) with round-headed, acrosomeless sperm.
- It significantly impacts male fertility, necessitating further investigation into underlying causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare semen parameters, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis rates in globozoospermic versus normozoospermic men.
- To elucidate the role of chromatin packaging and DNA integrity in globozoospermia-related infertility.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 36 semen samples: 15 globozoospermic and 21 normozoospermic controls.
- Assessed sperm protamine deficiency using Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining.
- Evaluated apoptotic spermatozoa rate via TUNEL assay.
Main Results:
- Globozoospermic men exhibited significantly lower sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology.
- Higher rates of protamine deficiency (CMA3+) and apoptosis (TUNEL+) were observed in globozoospermic samples.
- No significant correlation found between protamine deficiency and apoptosis in globozoospermic men.
Conclusions:
- Globozoospermic sperm show increased abnormal chromatin packaging and DNA fragmentation.
- Immature chromatin and apoptosis are significant contributors to infertility in globozoospermia, beyond acrosome absence.
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