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Related Experiment Videos

Apoptosis in human ejaculated sperm cells (notulae seminologicae 9)

B Baccetti1, G Collodel, P Piomboni

  • 1Institute of General Biology, University of Siena, Italy.

Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology
|October 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is abnormally frequent in the sperm of infertile men. This finding helps explain previously unexplained sperm abnormalities in both fertile and infertile individuals.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a natural process crucial for development and tissue homeostasis.
  • Understanding apoptosis in human sperm is vital for diagnosing male infertility.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential roles for apoptosis in sperm dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of apoptosis in human sperm cells from fertile and infertile men.
  • To correlate apoptotic sperm cell frequency with specific infertility pathologies.
  • To elucidate the ultrastructural and biochemical patterns of apoptosis in human spermatozoa.

Main Methods:

  • Hoechst 33258 DNA staining for chromatin condensation.
  • Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay for DNA fragmentation.

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  • Conventional electron microscopy for ultrastructural analysis of sperm morphology.

    • Main Results:

    • Apoptosis was significantly more frequent in infertile men's sperm (up to 50%) compared to fertile controls (0.1%).
    • Apoptotic sperm exhibited classical biochemical and ultrastructural features, including chromatin condensation and nuclear envelope changes.
    • Increased apoptosis rates were observed in various conditions like varicocele, infections (including AIDS), cryptorchidism, and testicular seminoma.

    Conclusions:

    • Apoptosis naturally occurs in human spermiogenetic epithelium, starting in the testis and detectable in ejaculate.
    • The study confirms apoptosis as a significant factor contributing to male infertility and explains abnormal sperm ultrastructure.
    • Quantifying apoptotic sperm provides a valuable diagnostic marker for male reproductive health.