The characteristic morphogenetic changes which occur during sperm formation are at times accompanied by profound chemical alterations of the nuclear material. Thus it has been known since Miescher's pioneer studies during the 1870's (19) that nuclei in the immature salmon testis contain nucleohistones, while ripe salmon sperm contain nucleoprotamines. Basic proteins which are intermediate in co...

Sperm concentration, morphology, DNA condensation and nuclear protein pattern as well as sperm adenylate cyclase were evaluated in semen samples provided by 7 volunteers every 8 h for 2 days. During the observation period, sperm concentration and total sperm number decreased but began to return towards normal after a 3-day abstinence period. No increase in the proportion of immature sperm cells...

A cell-free cytoplasmic preparation from activated Rana pipiens eggs could induce in demembranated Xenopus laevis sperm nuclei morphological changes similar to those seen during pronuclear formation in intact eggs. The condensed sperm chromatin underwent an initial rapid, but limited, dispersion. A nuclear envelope formed around the dispersed chromatin and the nuclei enlarged. The subcellular d...

objectives: the aim of the present study was to evaluate protective effect of royal jelly on sperm parameters, testosterone level, and malondialdehyde (mda) production in mice. materials and methods: thirty-two adult male nmri mice weighing 30±2 g were used. all the animals were divided into 4 groups. control group: received saline 0.1 ml/mouse/day orally for 30 days. royal jelly group (rj): re...

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate protective effect of royal jelly on sperm parameters, testosterone level, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production in mice. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two adult male NMRI mice weighing 30±2 g were used. All the animals were divided into 4 groups. Control group: received saline 0.1 ml/mouse/day orally for 30 days. Royal Jelly group (RJ): re...

BACKGROUND Sperm chromatin status and nuclear DNA damage can be detected using well-established assays. However, most techniques are time-consuming and/or involve elaborate protocols and equipment. We have recently developed a simple and fast method to monitor sperm chromatin status in field conditions using the Diff-Quik assay which is employed in fertility clinics to assess sperm morphology w...

The highly condensed chromatin of mammalian spermatozoa is usually considered to be biologically inert before fertilization. However, we have demonstrated that even in this compacted state, sperm chromatin is subject to degradation at open configurations associated with the nuclear matrix through a process we have termed sperm chromatin fragmentation (SCF). This suggests that a mechanism exists...

There is evidence to show that varicocele repair can improve conventional sperm parameters but the effects on sperm chromatin integrity have not been fully elucidated. We sought to examine the effects of varicocelectomy on sperm maturation, nuclear chromatin integrity and nuclear sulfhydryl groups. We conducted a prospective study of consecutive infertile men (n=29) that underwent a microsurgic...

DNA fragmentation and the nuclear protein matrix in boar spermatozoa were simultaneously assessed using a specific variant of the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test that allows direct visualization of DNA and nuclear proteins under standard conditions of chemical lysis. Nuclear proteins remaining after lysis were stained with the fluorochrome 2,7-dibrom-4-hydroxy-mercury-fluorescein for spec...