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Aberrant distribution of the peri‐axonemal structures in the human spermatozoon: possible role of the axoneme in the spatial organization of the flagellar components
Author(s) -
Escalier D.,
Serres C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1111/j.1768-322x.1985.tb00372.x
Subject(s) - axoneme , spermatozoon , biology , evolutionary biology , microbiology and biotechnology , flagellum , anatomy , genetics , ultrastructure , gene
A quantitative ultrastructural study combined with stereology was performed on semen samples from four men selected for apparently isolated anomalies of the peri‐axonemal structures. Comparison of the results with those of a control group revealed a decrease: in the mean length of the principal piece; in the mean length of the 9 dense fibres and in the difference in length between the 9 dense fibres, all the fibres being approximately as long as the medium length fibres of the normal spermatozoon. In addition, longitudinal columns were single and/or in abnormal position. However, the extent of the dense fibres (along 60% of the principal piece) and their proportion within the flagellum (35.1% of the principal piece per fibre on average) were normal. Analysis of the results suggests that: A‐tubules of the axonemal doublets are involved in the spatial arrangement of the peri‐axonemal structures; axonemal microtubule‐associated proteins (MAPs) may be responsible for this structural function; and three different types of longitudinal doublet differentiations may exist along the flagellar axoneme.