Human Sperm Morphology as a Marker of Its Nuclear Quality and Epigenetic Pattern.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human sperm chromatin condensation is a sum of epigenetic events that allows for the near-complete replacement of histones with protamines. Under high-magnification microscopy, nuclear vacuoles have been described as thumbprints with poor chromatin condensation. The objective of this study is to examine whether vacuolated spermatozoa carry specific epigenetic marks, which may influence embryo development.

Methods

The presence and three-dimensional distribution of ten epigenetic marks (protamine-P2, histone-H3, H3K4me1/me2/me3, H3K9me1/me2/me3, H3K27me3, H4k20me2) were evaluated and compared in morphometrically normal spermatozoa according to the presence or absence of a large vacuole occupying more than 15% of the head surface (n = 4193).

Results

Vacuolated

SUBMITTER: Bendayan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9180039 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature