Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF )
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (17)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mundy, A.J.
Right arrow Articles by Edmonds, D.K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Mundy, A.J.
Right arrow Articles by Edmonds, D.K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 116-119, 1995
© 1995 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Asthenozoospermia and the human sperm mid-piece

A.J. Mundy, T.A. Ryder1,1 and D.K. Edmonds

Department of Reproductive Medicine, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital London W6 OXG, UK 1 Electron Microscopy Unit, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital London W6 OXG, UK

Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed

This study provides a quantitative comparison between surface and ultrastructural features of motile spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic and fertile men. The study group consisted of 10 individuals with persistent asthenozoospermia and the controls were 10 fertile donors to a sperm bank. Scanning electron microscopy and image analysis were used to objectively measure sperm mid-piece and tail dimensions. Sperm mid-piece length was significantly shorter (P < 0.01) in asthenozoospermic subjects compared with the controls, with mid-piece width and tail length being comparable. Mid-piece ultrastructure was then examined with the transmission electron microscope and the number of mitochondrial gyres and their configuration recorded. At the ultrastructural level the asthenozoospermic subjects demonstrated significantly fewer mitochondrial gyres (P < 0.001) than their fertile counterparts. Energy for sperm movement is provided by mitochondria and a deficit in these organelles in the sub-fertile cohort provides an explanation for poor sperm function in these subjects.

Key words: asthenozoospermia/scanning electron microscopy/sperm mid-piece/spermatozoa/transmission electron microscopy

Submitted on February 11, 1994; accepted on August 19, 1994.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
J. Ramalho-Santos, S. Varum, S. Amaral, P. C. Mota, A. P. Sousa, and A. Amaral
Mitochondrial functionality in reproduction: from gonads and gametes to embryos and embryonic stem cells
Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2009; 15(5): 553 - 572.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
The ESHRE Capri Workshop Group
Intrauterine insemination
Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2009; 15(3): 265 - 277.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J AndrolHome page
R. T. Schulte, L. M. Keller, M. R. Hiner, D. A. Ohl, and G. D. Smith
Temporal Decreases in Sperm Motility: Which Patients Should Have Motility Checked at Both 1 and 2 Hours After Collection?
J Androl, September 1, 2008; 29(5): 558 - 563.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Biol. CellHome page
S. W. Gorsich and J. M. Shaw
Importance of Mitochondrial Dynamics During Meiosis and Sporulation
Mol. Biol. Cell, October 1, 2004; 15(10): 4369 - 4381.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
E. Ruiz-Pesini, C. Diez, A. C. Lapena, A. Perez-Martos, J. Montoya, E. Alvarez, J. Arenas, and M. J. Lopez-Perez
Correlation of sperm motility with mitochondrial enzymatic activities
Clin. Chem., August 1, 1998; 44(8): 1616 - 1620.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.