Cited by 135Sperm and Testicular FunctionReproductive biology and impacts on aquatic speciesReproductive Biology and Fertility

Genetic aspects of monomorphic teratozoospermia: a review

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De Braekeleer, Marc, Nguyen, Minh Huong, Morel, Frédéric, Perrin, Aurore·2015·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

Abstract

Teratozoospermia is characterized by the presence of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology over 85 % in sperm. When all the spermatozoa display a unique abnormality, teratozoospermia is said to be monomorphic. Two forms of monomorphic teratozoospermia, representing less than 1 % of male infertility, are recognized: macrozoospermia (also called macrocephalic sperm head syndrome) and globozoospermia (also called round-headed sperm syndrome). Macrozoospermia is defined as the presence of a very high percentage of spermatozoa with enlarged head and multiple flagella. Meiotic segregation studies in 30 males revealed that over 90 % of spermatozoa were aneuploid, mainly diploid. Sperm DNA fragmentation studies performed in a few patients showed an increase in DNA fragmentation index compared to fertile men. Four mutations in the AURKC gene, a key player in meiosis and more particularly in spermatogenesis, have been found to be responsible for macrozoospermia. Globozoospermia is characterized by round-headed spermatozoa with an absent acrosome, an aberrant nuclear membrane and midpiece defects. The rate of aneuploidy of various chromosomes in spermatozoa from 26 globozoospermic men was slightly increased compared to fertile men. However, this increase was of the same order as that commonly found in infertile men with altered sperm parameters. The majority of the studies found that globozoospermic males had a sperm DNA fragmentation index higher than in fertile men. Mutations or deletions in three genes, SPATA16, PICK1 and DPY19L2, have been shown to be responsible for globozoospermia. Identification of the genetic causes of macrozoospermia and globozoospermia should help refine diagnosis and treatment of these patients, avoiding long and painful treatments. Elucidating the molecular causes of these defects is of utmost importance as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is very disappointing in these two pathologies.

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  • Two of the most commonly found monomorphic teratozoospermic defects are macrocephalic head syndrome (macrozoospermia) and total globozoospermia syndrome.

    “Interestingly, two of the most commonly found monomorphic teratozoospermic defects are macrocephalic head syndrome (macrozoospermia) and total globozoospermia syndrome (39).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Viville S, Mollard R, Bach ML, Falquet C, Gerlinger P, Warter S. Do morphological anomalies reflect chromosomal aneuploidies? Hum Reprod. 2000;15:2563-6.
  2. Harbuz R, Zouari R, Dieterich K, Nikas Y, Lunardi J, Hennebicq S. Ray PF [Function of aurora kinase C (AURKC) in human reproduc- tion]. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2009;37:546-51.
  3. El Kerch F, Lamzouri A, Laarabi FZ, Zahi M, Ben Amar B. Sefiani A [Confirmation of the high prevalence in Morocco of the homozygous mutation c.144delC in the aurora kinase C gene (AURKC) in the teratozoospermia with large-headed spermatozoa]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2011;40:329-33.
  4. Blanchard Y, Lescoat D, Le Lannou D. Anomalous distribution of nuclear basic proteins in round-headed human spermatozoa. Andrologia. 1990;22:549-55.
  5. Vicari E, Perdichizzi A, De Palma A, Burrello N, D'Agata R, Calogero AE. Globozoospermia is associated with chromatin struc- ture abnormalities. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:2128-33.

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Authors
De Braekeleer, M., Nguyen, M. H., Morel, F., & Perrin, A.
Affiliations
Inserm (FR)
Venue
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published
2015-02-25
Volume
32
Issue
4
Pages
615-623
ISSN
  • 0740-7769 (ISSN-L)
  • 1058-0468
  • 1573-7330
OpenAlex
W2082995757
Cited by
135
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 1
FWCI
1.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
Keywords
globozoospermia, male infertility, sperm morphology, sperm aneuploidy, sperm DNA fragmentation, PICK1, DPY19L2, meiotic segregation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection
MeSH terms
Humans, Infertility, Male, Male, Mutation, Spermatozoa, DNA Fragmentation

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