The nature of human sperm head vacuoles: a systematic literature review

Basic and Clinical Andrology
Florence BoitrelleJacqueline Selva

Abstract

Motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) involves the use of differential interference contrast microscopy (also called Nomarski contrast) at high magnification (at least 6300x) to improve the observation of live human spermatozoa. In fact, this technique evidences sperm head vacuoles that are not necessarily seen at lower magnifications - particularly if the vacuoles are small (i.e. occupying <4% of the sperm head's area). However, a decade after MSOME's introduction, it is still not clear whether sperm head vacuoles are nuclear, acrosomal and/or membrane-related in nature. In an attempt to clarify this debate, we performed a systematic literature review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed database was searched from 2001 onwards with the terms "MSOME", "human sperm vacuoles", "high-magnification, sperm". Out of 180 search results, 21 relevant English-language publications on the nature of human sperm head vacuoles were finally selected and reviewed. Our review of the literature prompted us to conclude that sperm-head vacuoles are nuclear in nature and are related to chromatin condensation failure and (in some cases) sperm DNA damage.

References

Sep 27, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kazuto Morozumi, Ryuzo Yanagimachi
Dec 22, 2005·Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library·Monica MuratoriElisabetta Baldi
Jul 12, 2008·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·J G FrancoL Vagnini
Nov 6, 2008·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Andrea GarollaCarlo Foresta
Apr 30, 2009·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Nicoletta TarozziAndrea Borini
Mar 2, 2010·Fertility and Sterility·Joao Batista Alcantara OliveiraJosé Gonçalves Franco
Aug 31, 2010·Asian Journal of Andrology·R John Aitken, Adam J Koppers
May 4, 2011·International Journal of Andrology·J G FrancoL D Vagnini
Jan 10, 2012·Reproductive Biomedicine Online·Nino G CassutoChadi Yazbeck
Jul 20, 2012·Human Reproduction·Debbie MontjeanYves Ménézo
Mar 8, 2013·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics·Mohamed Hassen ChelliFrançois Vialard

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

MSOME

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