• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2011

Light microscope, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the fine structure of sperm of the Korea squirrel, Tamias sibiricus. The sperm head of T. sibiricus was paddle in shape. The total length of T. sibiricus sperm was 67.8 ${\mu}m$. The length of sperm head was 7.8 ${\mu}m$, and the tail (60.0 ${\mu}m$) was consisted of four major segments: the neck (1.0 ${\mu}m$), middle (8.0 ${\mu}m$), principal (48.5 ${\mu}m$) and end piece (2.5 ${\mu}m$), respectively. Especially, the length of the middle piece is short, and end piece was very shorter than those of other rodents. The post-nuclear cap was occupied about a fifth of nucleus. The equatorial segment is located between the post-nuclear cap segment and acrosomal cap on the nuclear surface. Nine segmented columns were surrounded by the mitochondria, and numbers of gyres of mitochondria were 26. One segmented column was consisted ten to twelve knobs, and each of segmented column in the neck region connected with the nine outer dense fiber in the middle piece. Numerous satellite-like fibers were scattered around the segmented columns. Nos. 1, 5 and 6 of the outer dense fibers in the middle piece were larger than the others. A fibrous sheath and longitudinal column of the principal piece were in evidence, but the fibrous sheath and longitudinal column was not seen at the end piece. In conclusion, the structural features of sperm head and tail may be useful information to patterns of sperm evolution and classification of species.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 1995

The present study was carried out to establish several spermatotoxicity test methods. For this purpose we investigated following parameters in the fertility study of DA-125, a new anticancer agent, in rats: testicular spermatid counts, epididymal sperm counts, daily sperm production rate, sperm morphology, and serum testosterone concentration. Motility and velocity of sperms were also measured using non-treated rats. At 0.3 mg DA-125/kg, spermatids per 1g testis and daily sperm production rate per 1g testis were significantly decreased, when compared with those of control group. Several types of abnormal sperms, such as no head, pin head, double head, hook at wrong angle, no tail, and small sperm, were found in both treated and control groups at a low frequency. Serum testosterone concentration at 0.3 mg DA-125/kg was close to the control value. Sperm motility and velocity measured with non-treated rats were in a good agreement with the results of other investigators. In our study established spermatotoxicity test methods can be used as a tool not only for the close examination of the cause of drug- or chemical-induced infertility, but also for the effective evaluation of reproductive toxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1985

A series of observation on sperm penetration in urodele (Ambystoma mexicanum) eggs are reported. The whole sperm including the tail appears to penetrate the egg surface. It can be demonstrated that the Ambystoma mexicanum egg is typically polyspermic. Each sperm penetration point is marked by a distinct crater on the egg surface the so called sperm pit. Initially, no sign of disruption in the surface structure observed. Once sperm penetration was complete, the site of entry became covered with long microvilli.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.147-151
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate DNA fragmentation status in human spermatozoa according to specific tail swelling patterns determined via hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Methods: Frozen semen samples from 21 healthy donors were thawed and prepared by the swim-up technique for use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The semen samples were treated for 5 minutes as part of the HOST procedure and then underwent the sperm chromatin dispersion test using a Halosperm kit. DNA fragmentation status (large halo, medium halo, small halo, no halo, or degraded) and the specific tail swelling pattern ("a"-"g") were assessed at the level of a single spermatozoon. A total of 42,000 spermatozoa were analyzed, and the percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation (as evidenced by a large or medium halo) was assessed according to the specific tail swelling patterns observed. Results: The HOST examinations showed that > 93% of spermatozoa across all types displayed no DNA fragmentation. The percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation was 100% in type "d", 98.67% in type "g", and 98.17% in type "f" spermatozoa. Conclusion: We found that the type "d" spermatozoa displayed no DNA fragmentation, but the other types of spermatozoa also displayed very low rates of DNA fragmentation. This result may be associated with the processing of the spermatozoa by density gradient centrifugation and the swim-up technique.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1989

The effect of antisperm antibodies (ASA) on the human in vitro fertilization (lVF) process was evaluated by analyzing the IVF data between October and December 1988 at Seoul National University Hospital prospectively. The immunobead test (IBT) was used to identify Ig G, Ig A, and Ig M in the serum, semen, and follicular fluid from 93 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (lVF-ET ) . The fertilization rate in couples with ASA to sperm head of at least one isotype in female serum (n= 10) was significantly less than that in couples without ASA to sperm head (n=83; 28.5% versus 45.3% , p=0.028). The presence of ASA to sperm head in follicular fluid (n=8) also reduced fertilization rate from 45.3% to 24.4% (p=O.0l3). However, ASA binding to sperm head in male serum and semen did not predict fertilization. Similarly, ASA binding to sperm tail and tail-tip did not reduced the oocyte fertilization rate significantly in any of the fluids tested. The zygote cleavage rate was not reduced in the presence of ASA. These results suggest that the presence of ASA to sperm head in female serum and follicular fluid is associated with reduced fertilization in IVF-ET. Another observation is that the oocyte that do fertilize in the presence of antisperm antibodies can subsequently proceed with normal cleavage. The results of this investigation therefore suggest that the IBT is a useful test forscreening of women participat.ing IVF-ET program.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

The ultrastructural characteristics of germ cell differentiations during spermatogenesis and mature sperm morphology in male $Atrina$ ($Servatrina$) $pectinata$ were evaluated via transmission electron microscopic observation. The accessory cells, which contained a large quantity of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, are assumed to be involved in nutrient supply for germ cell development. Morphologically, the sperm nucleus and acrosome of this species are ovoid and conical in shape, respectively. The acrosomal vesicle, which is formed by two kinds of electron-dense or lucent materials, appears from the base to the tip: a thick and slender elliptical line, which is composed of electron-dense opaque material, appears along the outer part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle from the base to the tip, whereas the inner part (region) of the acrosomal vesicle is composed of electron-lucent material in the acrosomal vesicle. Two special characteristics, which are found in the acrosomal vesicle of A. ($S$) $pectinata$ in Pinnidae (subclass Pteriomorphia), can be employed for phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses as a taxonomic key or a significant tool. The spermatozoa were approximately $45-50{\mu}m$ in length, including a sperm nucleus (about $1.43{\mu}m$ in length), an acrosome (about $0.51{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum (about $46-47{\mu}m$). The axoneme of the sperm tail evidences a 9+2 structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

The fine structures of the sperm morphology in the Myotis daubentonii ussuriensis were observed by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the sperm head revealed bullet shaped, the width was showed a slender more than toward the posterior region to anterior region of nucleus. The sperm head was about $4.5{\mu}m$ in length, being about $2.0{\mu}m$ in width. The nuclear length was $4.3{\mu}m$, occupied most of the sperm head. The nucleus and acrosome were separated by the apical body. The neck region was composed the basal plate, capitulum and segmented columns. The segmented columns were about 12 to 14 in number and connected with the outer dense fibers of the middle piece. The mitochondria sheath were arranged like the thread of a screw, and the total number of mitochondrial gyres were 57. The satellite fibers were observed irregularly among the outer dense fibers in the middle piece. Except the middle piece they are not observed in the principal and end pieces of the tail. In general, the tail show axoneme composed of a 9+2 microtubular pattern, and microtubules of the end piece were arranged irregularly.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2011

Spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of in male Septifer (Mytilisepta) virgatus were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus and the acrosome of this species are the cylinder shape and cone shape, respectively. Spermatozoa are approximately 45-50 ${\mu}m$ in length including a sperm nucleus (about 1.26 ${\mu}m$ long), an acrosome (about 0.99 ${\mu}m$ long), and tail flagellum (about 45-47 ${\mu}m$). Several electron-dense proacrosomal vesicles become later the definitive acrosomal vesicle by the fusion of several Golgi-derived vesicles. The acrosome of this species has two regions of differing electron density: there is a thin, outer electron-dense opaque region (part) at the anterior end, behind which is a thicker, more electron-lucent region (part). In genus Septifer in Mytilidae, an axial rod does not find and also a mid-central line hole does not appear in the sperm nucleus. However, in genus Mytilus in Mytilidae, in subclass Pteriomorphia, an axial rod and a mid-central line hole appeared in the sperm nucleus. These morphological differences of the acrosome and sperm nucleus between the genuses Septifer and Mytilus can be used for phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses as a taxonomic key or a significant tool. The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are five, as seen in subclass Pteriomorphia.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 1996

In order to study process of spermiogenesis of the Korean manchurian field mouse, Apodemus spesiosus peninsulae, the testis obtained from sexually matured male reproductive organs, were examined with electron microscopy, and the following results were obtained based on the characters of cell differentiation. 1. According to the features of cell structure, spermiogenesis of the Apodemus spesiosus peninsulae was five phases: Golgi, cap, acrosome, maturation and spermiation phase. They were further subdivided into two steps of early and late phases respectively. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of ten steps. 2. In the changes of the chromatin, the chromatin granules began to be condenced in the cap phase and regularizated at maturation phases, and a perfect nucleus of sperm was formed at the spermiation phases. 3. The formative period of sperm tail began to be develop in the early Golgi phase and completed at the spermiation phases 4. The outer dence fibers of middle piece were arranged in a horseshoe fashion. Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 9 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. The structure of axoneme in the middle piece was 9+2, and the axonemal complex consists of A and B microtubules, dynein arms and radial links.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2007

This study describes spermatogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of the granular ark, Tegillarca granosa using light and electron microscopy. In the active spermatogenic season, the testis comprises many spermatogenic follicles that contain germ cells in different developmental stages. Primary spermatocytes in the pachytene stage are characterized by synaptonemal complexes. The early spermatids are characterized by the appearance of several Golgi bodies, increased karyoplasmic electron density, and tubular mitochondria. The mass of proacrosomal granules consists of numerous heterogeneous granules with high electron density that are about 20 nm in diameter. From the midstage of spermiogenesis, the well-developed mitochondria in the cytoplasm aggregate posterior to the nucleus and surround the proximal and distal centrioles. The proacrosomal granules condense and form a single acrosome with a thin envelope. During late spermiogenesis, the acrosome begins to elongate becoming conical. The sperm is approximately $35.0{\mu}m$ long and consists of a head, midpiece, and tail. The head comprises a round nucleus and a conical acrosome. A micro fibrous axial rod is observed between the nucleus and acrosome. The midpiece has a calyx-like structure with five mitochondria, and the tail, which has the typical "9+2" microtubular system, originates from the distal centriole.