• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.56-56
• /
• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate on the improvement of fertilizing and developing ability of in vitro matured oocytes from individuals of bulls, sperm type, pretreatment of sperm or oocytes obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI). 1. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates of oocytes obtained by ICSI treated individual of bulls were 73.9%-87.0% and 33.3%-60.9%, respectively. 2. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates of oocytes obtained by ICSI treated fresh and frozen sperm, tail-cutting and tail-scoring sperm were 82.0%, 78.0%, 42.2%, 51.1% and 56.0%, 42.0%, 17.8%, 22.2% respectively. and these values of fresh sperm injection were higher than that of frozen sperm, tail-cutting and tail-scoring. 3. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates of oocytes obtained by sperm pretreated heparin, BFF(bovine follicula fluid), His, Ca Ionophore(Ⅰ) and Ⅰ ＋ caffeine methods were 66.7%-82.2% and 33.3%-60.6%, respectively. and these values of treatment of Ⅰ＋ caffeine were higher than that of other methods. 4. The male pronuclear formation and developmental rates of oocytes obtained by ICSI treated with or without zona pellucida were 80.0%, 72.0% and 46.0%, 36.0%, respectively.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.371-379
• /
• 1997

To investigate the movement of sperm head and the role of sperm neck in forward sperm motility in the Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae, the morphological characteristics of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa of A. agrarius coreae were characterized by the conspicuous shape of the acrosome and the long tail compared with those of other rodents. Total length of the sperm was $133\mu{m}$. The sperm head had a curved falciform shape. The head was 8.0${\mu}$m in length, and about 4.0 ${\mu}$m in width. The shape of acrosome had an openerlike form. The sperm tail (125 ${\mu}$m) consisted of four major segments: neck (0.5 ${\mu}$m), middle piece (29.5 ${\mu}$m), and principal piece plus the end piece (95 ${\mu}$m). The outer dense fibers were arranged in a horseshoe fashion, and No. 1, 5, 6, and 9 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. The mitochondrial bundles of middle piece were composed of a pair of arms, which surrounded the axone of the middle piece by the 45 0 angled helical structure. The total number of mitochondrial gyres was 188. In particular, the microfilament structures existed in plasma membrane of the sperm, which was adjacent to the acrosomal region on the nuclear membrane. The segmented columns were surrounded by microfilament structures, and the microfilament bundles were adjacent to the outer membrane of the first mitochondria of middle piece. This study presents for the first time the existence of microfilament structures within the plasma membrane of sperm which is located from the adjacent acrosome region to the connecting piece in sperm neck of Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae. The present result suggests that the constriction and extension of microfilament in sperm neck as well as the wave-movement of sperm tail may play a role in the movement of sperm head.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1998

To investigate the influences on semen parameters and fertilizing capacity of immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and regional distribution of antisperm antibody (ASA) on the human sperm surface. Sixty-seven ASA-positive patients were compared with 96 ASA-negative donors. ASAs in semen showed significant negative effects on both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity; in those with ASAs in the sperm head and/or tail, the reductions were significant. In the head as well as the tail, there was close correlation between fertilizing capacity and both IgG and IgA. Both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity are significantly affected by the presence of ASA in semen. In particular, antibodies IgG to sperm head and/or tail, and antibodies IgA to sperm tail appeared to have a highly detrimental effect on fertilizing capacity.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.33-43
• /
• 2010

The ultrastructure of germ cells during spermatogenesis and some characteristics of sperm morphology in male Mytilus coruscus, which was collected on the coastal waters of Gyeokpo in western Korea, were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphology of the spermatozoon has a primitive type and is similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with five mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have an oval and modified cone shape, respectively. In particular, the axial rod is observed between the nucleus and acrosome of the sperm. The spermatozoon is approximately $45-50{\mu}m$ in length including a sperm nucleus (about $1.46{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $3.94{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum (approximately $40-45{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure. Some special charateristics of sperm morphology of this species in the genus Mytilus are (1) acrosomal morphology, (2) the number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm, and (3) the existence of a satellite. The axial rod appears in the acrosome and sperm nucleus as one of the characteristics seen in several species of the subclass Pteriomorphia, unlikely the subclass Heterodonta containing axial filament instead of the axial rod. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species in the family Mytilidae are five, as one of common characteristics appeared in most species in the family Mytilidae. Most of Mytilus species contain a satellite body which is attached to the proximal centriole in the middle piece of the sperm, as one of common characteristics of sperm morphology in the family Mytilidae.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 1994

Morphological estimation of human spermatozoa is complicated by the fact that there is great natural variation in shape. This natural variation in shapes makes it difficult to say which forms are associated with infertility and which are normal variations. Possibly post coital test or in vitro cervical mucus penetration tests will help to clarify this question by showing which sperm are capable of penetration. The purpose of this investigation was performed to assess distribution of various morphological abnormalities according to the ability of sperm to penetrate cervical mucus. The sperm-mucus penetration using hen's egg white as substituting mucus for human cervical mucus was done in 45 fertile men with normal semen analysis and 122 infertile men with abnormal seminal parameters more than one. The female partners of 122 infertile couples showed normal results in the female fundamental test for fertility. Conventional semen analysis was evaluated according to the WHO standard normal(l980). The detailed classification of the abnormal sperm was made according to David et al(l975). The vitality of the sperm samples determined by eosin yellow-nigrosin stainig according to the method of Eliasson(l977). Results were as follw; 1. The patients had significantly lower total sperm count, motility (%), normal morphology (%), viability and total functional sperm fractions(TFSF) than fertile donors. 2. The mean value of sperm penetration distance of the patients(28.69${\pm}$11.02mm) showed significantly lower than fertile donors(37.33${\pm}$5.49mm). And 43/45 fertile donors(95.5%) as well as 57/122 patients(46.7%) had over 30mm in sperm penetration distance respectively. While 2/45 fertile donors(4.5 %) and 65/122 patient(53.3%) had under 30mm in sperm penetration distance respectively. 3. The morphological abnormalities in fertile donors were significantly lower 23.04${\pm}$5.83% (head = 12.89${\pm}$4.98, neck=6.11${\pm}$3.83%, and tail=3.43${\pm}$2.65%), compared to 36.03${\pm}$14. 40% in patients(head = 15.98 8.60%, neck 11.20${\pm}$6.56% and tail=8.70${\pm}$6.55%). Also, 3 types of sperm abnormalities including head, neck and tail were significantly lower in patient than fertile donors, respectively. Both the patients and fertile donors showed higher distribution of sperm with abnormal head than abnormal neck and tail. 4. The mean morphological abnormalities(SP>30mm) of the patients(30.68 11.64%; head = 15.95${\pm}$9.35%, neck=8.14${\pm}$4.21 %, tail=6.56${\pm}$5.64%) were significantly lower compared to patients(40.72${\pm}$15.01 %; head=16.02${\pm}$7.69%, neck 13.89${\pm}$7.82%, tail=1O.58${\pm}$6.75%) under 30mm in sperm penetration distance. Also, both groups over 30mm and under 30mm in sperm penetration showed distance higher distribution of sperm with abnormal head than abnormal neck and tail. The morphological abnormalities of head did not show significant difference but abnormal neck and tail were significant difference between the over 30mm and under 30mm group in sperm penetration distance.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2016

The recovery of epididymal sperm in animals is considered as one of the important tools to preserve high value or endangered species. However, there are no appropriate castrating indicators such as months of age in bull, sperm morphology, and motility, particularly in young Korean native bull (Hanwoo). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate sperm number, morphology, and motility of sperm in the epididymis tail of young Hanwoo bulls at 8 and 15 months of age. After castration, epididymal tails were collected and minced with blades to recover sperm. In experiments 1 and 2, sperm number, morphology, and motility were examined. Total number of sperm and percentage of normal sperm from bulls at 8 months of age was lower than that of bulls at 15 months of age after collection (P<0.05). Percentage of abnormal head, tail, proximal cytoplasmic droplet, dead and damaged acrosome of sperm from bulls at 8 months of age were higher than those of bulls at 15 months of age (P<0.05). In experiment 3, sperm motility from bulls at 8 and 15 months of age were examined before freezing and after thawing. Frozen-thawed sperm at 8 months of age showed low total motility and motile sperm with ${\geq}25{\mu}m/sec$ compared to those at 15 months of age and commercially-used sperm (P<0.05). In conclusion, sperm derived from the epididymal tail of bulls at 8 months of age showed high abnormal morphology and poor motility, which are not adequate for AI and IVF. On the other hand, sperm derived from the epididymal tail of bulls at 15 months of age showed high normal morphology and motility.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.377-386
• /
• 2011

The ultrastructures of germ cells during spermatogenesis and sperm morphology in male Mya arenaria oonogai, which was collected on the coastal waters of Samcheonpo, south coast of Korea, were investigated by transmission electron microscopic observations. In the early stage of the spermatid during spermiogenesis, a few granules and a proacrosomal granule, which is formed by the Golgi complex, appear on the spermatid nucleus, and then it becomes a proacrosomal vesicle. Consequently, it becomes an acrosome by way of the process of acrosome formation. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome of this species have a curved cylindrical type and cone shape, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-50{\mu}m$ in length including a curved cylinderical sperm nucleus (about $2.65{\mu}m$ long), an acrosome (about $0.64{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum ($40-45{\mu}m$ long). As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics of the sperm belong to the family Myidae or some species of Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosome structures. Exceptionally, In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved (the angle of the nucleus is about $20^{\circ}$), as seen in some species of Veneridae (range from $0^{\circ}-80^{\circ}$). The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are four, as one of common characteristics appeared in most species except for a few species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Cross-sectioned axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9+2 structure: the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of peripheral microtubules at the periphery and a pair of central doublets at the center.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2011

Some characteristics of the formations of acrosomal vesicles during the late stage of spermatids during spermiogenesis and taxonomical charateristics of sperm morphology in male two species (Saxidomus purpurata and Meretrix petechialis) in the family Veneridae were investigated by electron microscope observations. In two species, the morphologies of the spermatozoa have the primitive type and are similar to those of other bivalves in that it contains a short midpiece with five mitochondria surrounding the centrioles. The morphologies of the sperm nuclear types of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae have the curved cylindrical and cylinderical type, respectively. And the acrosome shapes of two species are the same cap-shape type. In particular, the axial filament is not found in the lumen of the acrosome of two species, however, subacrosomal material are observed in the subacrosomal spaces between the anterior nuclear fossa and the acrosomal vesicle of two species. The spermatozoon of S. purpurata is approximately 46-$52{\mu}m$ in length, including a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.75{\mu}m$ in length), a long acrosome (about $0.40{\mu}m$ in length),and a tail flagellum (about 45-$47{\mu}m$ long). And the spermatozoon of M. petechialis is approximately 47-$50{\mu}m$ in length including a slightly curved sperm nucleus (about $1.50{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $0.56{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum (44-$48{\mu}m$ in length). In two species, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum of each species consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair of cental doublets at the center. Therefore, the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9 + 2 structure. In particular, taxonomically important some charateristics of sperm morphologies of two species in the family Veneridae are acrosomal morphology of the sperm, The axial filament is not found in the acrosome as seen in a few species of the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. The acrosomal vesicle is composed of right, left basal rings and the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle. In particular, right and left basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosomal vesicle shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics belong to the subclass Heterodonta, unlikely a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosomal structures. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of S. purpurata and M. petechialis in Veneridae are five. However, the number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm in most species of Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta are four. Therefore, the number of mitochondria of the sperm midpiece of two species are exceptionally 5, and it is only exceptional case in the species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Except these cases, the number of mitochondria in the sperm midpiece in all families in the subclass Heterodontaare are 4, and now widely used in taxonomic analyses.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.363-370
• /
• 2012

The outer dense fiber 2 (ODF2) protein is an important component of sperm tail outer dense fiber and localizes at the centrosome. It has been reported that the RO072 ES cell derived homozygote knock out of ODF2 results in an embryonic lethal phenotype, and XL169 ES cell derived heterozygote knock out causes severe defects in sperm tail development. The ODF2s splicing variant, Cenexin1, possesses a C-terminal extension, and the phosphorylation of serine 796 residue in an extended C-terminal is responsible for Plk1 binding. Cenexin1 assembles ninein and causes ciliogenesis in early stages of the cell cycle in a Plk1-independent manner. Alternatively, in the late stages of the cell cycle, G2/M phase, Cenexin1 binds to Plk1 and results in proper mitotic progression. In this study, to identify the in vivo function of Plk1 binding to phosphorylated Cenexin1 S796 residue, and to understand the in vivo functional differences between ODF2 and Cenexin1, we generated ODF2/Cenexin1 S796A/Cenexin1 WT expressing transgenic mice in a RO072 ES cell derived $ODF2^{+/-}$ knock out background. We observed a severe defect of sperm tail development by ectopic expression of Cenexin1 S796A mutant and no phenotypic differences between the ectopic expression of ODF2/Cenexin1 WT in $ODF2^{+/-}$ background and in normal wild type mice.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2010

Spermatid differentiations during spermiogenesis and mature sperm ultrastructure in male Crassostrea nipponica were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphology of the spermatozoon of this species has a primitive type and is similar to those of other bivalves. Mature spermatozoa consist of broad, cap-shaped acrosomal vesicle and an axial rod in subacrosomal materials on an oval nucleus showing deeply invaginated anteriorly, two triplet substructure centrioles surrounded by four spherical mitochondria, and satelite fibres, which appear near the distal centriole. The acrosomal vesicle of spermatozoa of C. nipponica resemble to those of other investigated ostreids. Especially, two transverse bands (stripes) appear at the anterior region of the acrosomal vesicle, unlikely 2-3 transverse bands (stripes) in C. gigas. It is assumed that differences in this acrosomal substructure are associated with the inability of fertilization between the genus Crassostrea and other genus species in Ostreidae. Therefore, we can use sperm morphology in the resolution of taxonomic relationships within the Ostreidea. The sperm is approximately $48-50{\mu}m$ in length including an oval sperm nucleus (about $1.0{\mu}m$ in length and $1.41{\mu}m$ in width), an acrosome (about $0.48{\mu}m$ in length and 0.30 in width) and tail flagellum ($46-48{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubules at the periphery and a pair at the center. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9 + 2 structure. These morphological charateristics of acrosomal vesicle belong to the family Ostreidae in the subclass Pteriomorphia.