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Ultrastructural analysis of sperms in patients with oligoasthenospermia

In significant number of cases, male infertility is caused by the structural abnormalities of sperms [1]. These abnormalities could be detected at the light microscopy level and using computer-aided systems for the sperm morphological and kinetic analysis. However, in selected cases, an ultrastructural analysis should be performed in order to establish a correct diagnosis [2]. The aim of our study was to detect ultrastructural sperm abnormalities in patients with the male factor infertility and to compare the electron microscopy data with the results of computer-aided ejaculate analysis. Using a CASA HAMILTON THORNE /IVOS HTM 10/ system, ejaculates from 14 selected patients with severe oligoasthenospermia were analysed at the light microscopy level. For the ultrastructural analysis, a transmission electron microscope Carl Zeiss 902A has been employed. A Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was performed by a Pectin Elmer GX spectrometer. 5 ejaculate samples form men with normospermia served as controls. Sperms form infertile group of patients displayed low concentrations, poor or no kinetics and a significant polymorphism (assessed by Tygerberg strict criteria). In 8 cases electron microscopy analysis showed combined anomalies of the sperm head and the tail. The chromatin of the sperm nucleus was not condensed whereas the head often displayed membranous inclusions. In one patient all sperms had globular shape (total globozoospermia), whereas in another two samples there was a mixed sperm population bearing globular or enlarged nucleus with a variety of shapes. The acrosome in the above-mentioned cases was frequently abnormal. In some sperms acrosome was included in the residual body or formed prominent inclusions within the nucleus. In 6 cases the sperm abnormalities were located in the tail. Mitochondria in the proximal part of the tail were in some cases uncoiled or poorly developed. In one case, the tail had abnormal arrangement of microtubules (additional microtubule attached to one peripheral microtubule pair). Preliminary infrared spectrometry data indicated significant difference between normal and abnormal sperms. It is concluded that the ultrastructural analysis could provide valuable data for the correct diagnosis of male infertility. A good correlation could be established between computer-aided ejaculate analysis and electron microscopy. Gopalkrishnan K. et al., Arch Androl 45 (2000), 111-7. Grab D. et al., Arch Gynecol Obstet 252 (1993), 137-41.

male infertility; sperm; electron microscopy

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