Sperm morphology in stallions: ultrastructure as a functional and diagnostic tool

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2006 Dec;22(3):683-92. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2006.08.001.

Abstract

Conventional light microscopic evaluation of a seminal ejaculate does not fully avail potential indicators of functional impairment in spermatozoal organelles. The technique of critical quantitative evaluation of morphologic features of individual structural components of spermatozoa at a light microscopic level in conjunction with critical qualitative evaluation of spermatozoal organelles at an ultrastructural level, as described in this article, is a valuable clinical tool. Compared with a battery of sperm function assays used in human andrology clinics, this relatively less expensive and simple technique is an efficient functional and diagnostic tool.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin / ultrastructure
  • Fertility*
  • Horse Diseases / pathology*
  • Horses / anatomy & histology*
  • Horses / physiology
  • Infertility, Male / pathology
  • Infertility, Male / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / veterinary
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Semen / cytology
  • Seminiferous Epithelium / ultrastructure
  • Sertoli Cells / ultrastructure
  • Sperm Agglutination / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / abnormalities
  • Spermatozoa / ultrastructure*
  • Tissue Fixation / methods
  • Tissue Fixation / veterinary

Substances

  • Chromatin