Histones Instead of Protamines in Terminal Germ Cells of Infertile, Oligospermic Men

Silvestroni, L.; Frajese, Gaetano; Malandrino, F.

doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)42260-0

Cited by 58 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…14,15 Protamines are basic and thus cationic proteins responsible for highly compacted DNA in sperm cells, 16,17 where they replace somatic histones. [18][19][20][21][22] The tight packing of DNA inside sperm heads protects the genetic material during spermatogenesis. 23 However, the organization of protamines inside the DNA-protamine complexes is still unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA groove preference shift upon phosphorylation of a protamine-like cationic peptide

Chhetri,

Jang,

Lansac

et al. 2023

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA groove preference shift upon phosphorylation of a protamine-like cationic peptide

Chhetri,

Jang,

Lansac

et al. 2023

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The Nuclear Status of Human Sperm Cells by TEM Image Cytometry: Nuclear Shape and Chromatin Texture in Semen Samples from Fertile and Infertile Men

AUGER,

SCHOEVAERT,

NEGULESCO

et al. 1993

Journal of Andrology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Changes in nuclear size, shape, and chromatin texture during spermiogenesis and epididymal transport of human sperm were recently analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image cytometry followed by multivariate statistical analysis of data. In the present study, this same methodology was used to investigate the nuclear morphology of spermatozoa in semen samples from fertile and infertile men. Analysis was carried out on a large series of micrographs of sections of sperm nuclei from a donor group with proven fertility and from a patient group with a mean infertility duration of 10 years with no obvious male or female infertility factors (only a slight decrease in the proportion of sperm heads with normal morphology was noted in routine semen tests). For the patient group, it was found that nuclei had a significantly less flattened shape (i.e., increased roundness as a consequence of increased thickness and decreased length). Furthermore, significant differences between donor and patient groups were found for most parameters of chromatin texture. In the patient group, chromatin was less condensed, and there was more homogeneous distribution of the different degrees of chromatin condensation. In addition, the organization of chromatin condensation and distribution along the major axis of the nucleus was found to be significantly different in the two groups. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis indicated a good classification rate of only 66% for nuclel of patients when using the eight major nuclear parameters, thus indicating the striking heterogeneity of nuclear morphology for both patient and donor groups. However, parameter ranking showed the predominant discriminatory capacity of chromatin texture parameters compared to size and shape parameters, thus reinforcing the need for including tests for evaluating the nuclear status of sperm cells in routine semen analysis.

show abstract

Altered Protamine 2 Expression Is Uncommon In Donors of Known Fertility, but Common Among Men With Poor Fertilizing Capacity, and May Reflect Other Abnormalities of Spermiogenesis

CARRELL,

LIU

2001

Journal of Andrology

206

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the spermatid elongation stage of spermiogenesis approximately 85% of sperm nuclear histones are replaced by protamines. Protamines increase the packing ratio of sperm chromatin, presumably facilitating sperm motility and function. In this study we evaluated the incidence of abnormal protamine expression in 75 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 50 donors of known fertility by isolation of sperm nuclear proteins, quantitative gel electrophoresis, and Western blot analysis. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between abnormal protamine expression and semen quality, sperm penetration ability, chromatin stability, and IVF outcome. Seventeen percent (13/75) of IVF patients had no measurable protamine 2 (P2) versus 0% (0/50) of donors of known fertility (P < .005). Sperm penetration rates were decreased in 12 of 13 patients without P2, and mean penetration rates (4.6 ± 1.2 vs 32.8 ± 2.9, P < .005), normal morphology (22.4 ± 3.6 vs 48.7 ± 4.2, P < .05), and progressive motility (22.3 ± 2.5 vs 35.4 ± 2.1, P < .05) were all significantly decreased compared with patients with measurable P2. The mean sperm concentration was not significantly different. The presence of protamine precursor bands was also associated with a diminished penetration capacity (18.4 ± 2.8 vs 36.7 ± 3.0, P < .05). Sperm chromatin decondensation following exposure to heparin sulfate was significantly increased in patients without a measurable P2 band. Twelve patients with no measurable P2 underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with 6 patients (6/12, 50%) becoming pregnant. ICSI fertilization and subsequent embryo cleavage were not different in patients without P2 compared with other patients undergoing ICSI. These data indicate that abnormal sperm protamine levels are a common defect in infertility patients, but not in donors of known fertility. It appears that abnormal protamine levels may reflect defects of late spermiogenesis, including sperm penetration capacity.

show abstract

Histones Instead of Protamines in Terminal Germ Cells of Infertile, Oligospermic Men

Cited by 58 publications

References 22 publications

DNA groove preference shift upon phosphorylation of a protamine-like cationic peptide

DNA groove preference shift upon phosphorylation of a protamine-like cationic peptide

The Nuclear Status of Human Sperm Cells by TEM Image Cytometry: Nuclear Shape and Chromatin Texture in Semen Samples from Fertile and Infertile Men

Altered Protamine 2 Expression Is Uncommon In Donors of Known Fertility, but Common Among Men With Poor Fertilizing Capacity, and May Reflect Other Abnormalities of Spermiogenesis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About