In vitro effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on human spermatozoa.

The cytotoxicity of Au/Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human spermatozoa was investigated in vitro. Semen from donors were incubated (37 °C, 60'-120') with 30, 60, 125, 250 and 500 μM Au/Ag-NPs. Sperm motility was evaluated following WHO guidelines; sperm viability was assessed with eosin Y test.

Light, polarizing, and transmission electron microscopy: three methods for the evaluation of sperm quality.

Semen from 33 patients were evaluated by light microscopy (LM) obtaining sperm concentration, percent motility, percentage of sperm with normal morphology (PAP staining), and percentage of dead sperm (Eosin Y stained). The samples were observed by polarizing microscopy (PM), that evaluates sperm morphology and the viability by birefringence of organelles, and it provides a PM index (percentage of birefringent, viable, motile sperm) and a percentage of dead, non-birefringent sperm. Sperm were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TEM data were elaborated with a mathematical formula able to provide a fertility index (FI, number of sperm free of structural defects) and percentages of sperm immaturity and necrosis (dead sperm).

Detection of obestatin in seminal plasma and its relationship with ghrelin and semen parameters.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of ghrelin and obestatin in human semen.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University, center for research and therapy of male infertility.

Natural sperm birefringence can be used to estimate sperm viability and morphology.

Semen parameters were evaluated by a variety of tests. A polarizing microscope (PM) which allows, in a single step, for the evaluation of the number, motility, viability of sperm using the phenomenon of birefringence was used. This approach avoids a Papanicolaou staining procedure modified for sperm (PAP) performed in fixed material.

A case of severe asthenozoospermia: a novel sperm tail defect of possible genetic origin identified by electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry.

Objective: To characterize a novel flagellar defect involving 98% of sperm tails.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility, Siena, Italy.

Retrospective assessment of potential negative synergistic effects of varicocele and tobacco use on ultrastructural sperm morphology.

Objectives: To investigate, in a retrospective study, whether smoking cigarettes increases the effect of varicocele on sperm morphology.

Methods: The semen quality of 2 groups of patients with varicocele were compared, those who smoked (n = 121) and those who did not (n = 158). The semen parameters were evaluated, and sperm morphology was assessed using transmission electron microscopy and quantitatively elaborated (fertility index, immaturity, necrosis, and apoptosis percentages).

The presence of bacteria species in semen and sperm quality.

Purpose: To verify the prevalence of semen bacterial contamination and whether the contamination could decrease sperm quality.

Methods: Spermiogram, semen culture, and sperm transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were performed. TEM data were elaborated using a mathematical formula that calculates a fertility index (FI)--able to define patients as fertile or infertile--and the percentage of sperm apoptosis, immaturity and necrosis.

Sperm ultrastructure and meiotic segregation in a group of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Little is known about the effect of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C on sperm quality. In this study, we analysed sperm quality from selected patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Semen samples were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Sperm ultrastructure and meiotic segregation in a group of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Little is known about the effect of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C on sperm quality. In this study we analysed sperm quality from selected patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Semen samples were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Sperm ultrastructure and meiotic segregation in an infertile 47, XYY man.

The majority of 47, XYY males are fertile and contribute to produce chromosomally normal children. In 47, XYY carriers, most meiotic studies indicated that the extra Y chromosomes were lost in the pre-meiotic stages, but in some cases the presence of one X and the two Y chromosomes has been detected during prophase I as an X univalent plus a YY bivalent. The aim of this study was to describe sperm parameters and meiotic segregation in a case of an infertile man with a 47, XYY karyotype.

Spermatozoa and chronic treatment with finasteride: a TEM and FISH study.

Finasteride is a specific inhibitor of the 5alpha reductase enzyme originally approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy and also for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in men at a dose of 1 mg/day. We report on three cases of young men recruited at our Centre for Male Infertility who had used finasteride for five years. Semen quality was investigated by light microscopy to evaluate sperm concentration and motility.

Sperm ultrastructure and 18, X, Y aneuploidies in a man with a 46 XY, 47 XY + 18 mosaic karyotype: case report.

Purpose: To describe sperm morphology and meiotic segregation in the case of a man with a 46 XY/ 47 XY + 18 mosaic karyotype.

Materials And Methods: A 25-year-old man came to our Centre for semen analysis. Morphological sperm evaluation was performed by light and electron microscopy; meiotic segregation was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) technique using probes for chromosomes 18, X and Y.