Distribution of sperm antigen 6 (SPAG6) and 16 (SPAG16) in mouse ciliated and non-ciliated tissues.

The cilia and flagella of eukaryotic cells serve many functions, exhibiting remarkable conservation of both structure and molecular composition in widely divergent eukaryotic organisms. SPAG6 and SPAG16 are the homologous in the mice to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii PF16 and PF20. Both proteins are associated with the axonemal central apparatus and are essential for ciliary and flagellar motility in mammals.

Morphological evaluation of sperm from infertile men selected by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS).

Electron microscopy analysis performed in five infertile human subjects after sperm selection by swim-up followed by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) demonstrated a decrease in the number of spermatozoa with characteristics compatible with cell death. However, no significant differences were found when the swim-up/MACS semen fraction was compared with swim-up fraction alone.