耳鲍精子的超微结构

本文利用透射电子显微镜对耳鲍(Haliotis asinina Linnaeus)精子的形态及超微结构进行了研究.研究结果表明:耳鲍的精子由头部、中段和尾部三部分组成,全长 41.6 μm.精子头部长 1.8 μm,头部由顶体、顶体下腔和细胞核组成,顶体电子密度比较均匀,呈圆锥形,长 0.6 μm,基部宽度为 0.65 μm,占头部长的 1/3;顶体下腔长 0.03 μm,宽为 0.65 μm,腔中含有中等电子密度物质;细胞核圆棒状,长 1.17 μm,核中部的宽度为 1.0 μm.精子中段较短,长 0.51 μm,宽 1.2 μm,主要由 5 个线粒体包围一对中心粒构成.尾部是一根鞭毛,从前到后逐渐变细,鞭毛是由细胞质膜包被的轴丝组成,轴丝为典型的"9 2"微管结构,即轴丝是由两个中心微管及均匀分布在中心微管周围的 9 对双联体微管组成.因此,耳鲍与其它鲍类精子的基本结构相似,形态结构的主要差异表现在三个方面:一是耳鲍精子的头部似圆锥形,长 1.8 μm,是目前已研究的鲍类中头部最短的种类;二是耳鲍精子顶体长比其基部宽要小,顶体电子密度比较均匀,顶体与核的电子密度差异不明显;三是耳鲍精子中段线粒体的数量为 5 个,没有发现 6 个线粒体现象的存在[动物学报 53(3):552-556,2007].     

蝇类精子超微形态研究:麻眼尾蛆蝇

用电子显微镜观察了双翅目,无缝组,食蚜蝇科麻眼尾蛆蝇成熟精子的超微构造。麻眼尾蛆蝇的精子与果蝇的精子基本相似,呈线形,由头部和尾部组成,全长500—600微米。头部呈圆锥型,前端为单层结构的顶体,呈楔形插到核的侧面与核拼接。精子的尾部在头的后方,前粗后细,长500余微米。精子尾部内的微管排列为9+9+2的典型昆虫型。头部与尾部相接之处称为颈部,组合情况颇为复杂。本种精子尾的轴丝不直接与核相接,而是轴丝串联着基体(中心粒衍生物)隔着一层中心粒侧体与核相接。这种间接连接现象在果蝇未成熟的精子中可以见到,当精子成熟时中心粒侧体即行消失,核就直接与串联着基体的轴丝直接相接。麻眼尾蛆蝇成熟精子具有其他蝇类未成熟精子的性状,故可认为麻眼尾蛆蝇在蝇类系统发生中的地位较原始。     

墨西哥湾扇贝精子的超微结构

报道了墨西哥湾扇贝成熟精子在SEM和TEM下的超微结构观察结果。墨西哥湾扇贝的精子为典型的原生型,精子全长约43～45μm,头部长约2．1～2．4μm。精子主要由头部、中段和尾部三部分组成。头部顶体明显突出,呈倒V形;顶体下方为细胞核,细胞核近似卵圆形。在细胞核内部或边缘,能观察到有一个或几个形状较为规则的核泡。中段的主要结构有线粒体和中心体,中段的横切面有4个线粒体围绕在中心体的周围。尾部细长,尾部鞭毛横切面为典型的“9 2”结构。     

虾夷扇贝精子的超微结构

用扫描和透射电镜研究了虾夷扇贝(Patinopecten yessoensis)精子的超微结构.虾夷扇贝精子为典型的原生型,全长50μm左右,头部长约3 μm.精子主要由头部、中段和尾部三部分组成.头部顶体突出,呈倒"V"形;顶体下方为精核,电子密度较高且占头部大部分,具有核前窝(anterior nuclear fossa)、核后窝(posterior nuclear fossa)和植入窝(implantation fossa);4～5个近圆形的线粒体围绕着中心粒复合体形成精子的中段.尾部细长,尾部鞭毛横切面为典型的"9 2"结构.     

赤眼蜂属(Trichogramma)精子的超微结构研究

利用透射电子显敢镜研究了赤眼蜂属的松毛虫赤眼蜂和玉米螟赤眼蜂精子的超微结构。精子呈线形,由头部、颈部和尾部组成。头部前端的顶体较小,为梭形,顶端稍有弯曲,它和核呈楔状拼接排列。颈部的中心粒以45°方向斜插入核内,在中心粒的外周不被中心粒侧体所包围。尾部的轴丝为9+9+2型。在副微管之间有九条粗纤维存在。一对线粒体衍生物内的晶体物质不明显。两种赤眼蜂的精子结构差异很小,松毛虫赤眼蜂精子尾部轴丝结构部分的九个链头之间没有横向联系,而在玉米螟赤眼蜂上能清楚见到。     

中国雨蛙精子结构及其在系统发育上的意义

研究了中国雨蛙（Ｈｙｌａｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）精子的超微结构,并初步探讨其在系统发育上的意义,中国雨蛙精子由头部和尾部两部分组成,头部一有棒状的细胞核,核内染色质高度浓缩,细胞核前方有顶体。顶体圆锥状,顶体下腔之中一圆锥状的顶体下锥和细小的囊泡,精子尾部细长,主要由轴丝,致密纤维和线粒体组成,尾部没有波动膜。从蟾蜍科,雨蛙科和蛙科的精子结构看,无尾两栖类在进化过程中,精子结构趋向简单,雨蛙科精子的结     

Tssk1和Tssk2的克隆、表达及其在成熟精子中的分布与亚细胞定位

睾丸特异性丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶(Testis-SpecificSerine/Threonine Kinases,TSSKs)可能在精子发生和(或)精子功能调节中起着重要作用,该文研究克隆并表达了小鼠Tssk1和Tssk2基因,纯化得到了Tssk1和Tssk2蛋白激酶,经Western blotting分析,Tssk1和Tssk2皆存在于小鼠和人的成熟精子中。免疫组化的结果显示,Tssk1分布于小鼠的头部(顶体)及整个尾部,Tssk2主要分布在小鼠精子头部顶体后的区域;获能前后的小鼠精子其Tssk1及Tssk2分布模式未发生改变,小鼠Tssk2在诱发顶体反应前后精子中的分布模式也无变化。然而,原来存在于顶体的Tssk1在诱发顶体反应后由于顶体的丢失而未能检出其信号,但尾部的信号不受影响。在人精子中,Tssk1分布区域为颈部及尾部,Tssk2则分布于赤道板的位置。研究结果提示,Tssk1和Tssk2可能对精子功能具有重要调节作用。     

大鲵精子结构研究

为了解大鲵精子超微结构,应用扫描电镜和透射电镜开展了大鲵精子形态结构研究。结果显示:大鲵精子由头部、颈部和尾部3部分组成。精子总长216.36μm±9.93μm(n=30),头部长65.80μm±3.70μm(n=30),颈部较短,多不明显,尾部长153.52μm±3.22μm(n=30)。头部由顶体、穿孔器和细胞核组成;颈部包括核窝、近端中心粒及远端中心粒、线粒体、轴丝和轴纤维;尾部无明显分段,由轴丝、轴纤维、轴丝旁纤维和波动膜组成。大鲵精子内线粒体较少,可能与精子运动缓慢、精子活力维持时间短有关;成熟过程中精子细胞头部包围的胞质分泌物中含有一定数量的线粒体。     

大鲵精子的超微结构研究

本文运用透射电镜和扫描电镜研究了大鲵(Andrias davidianus)精子的超微结构,大鲵精子由头部(head),中片(midpiece)和尾部(tail)三部分组成。头部有棒状细胞核,核内染色质高度浓缩,细胞核前方呈细丝状,但非顶体结构。头部后端凹陷,称为植入窝(implantation fossa),植入窝内有线粒体和中心粒等细胞器结构,此区域为精子的中片。精子尾部细长,主要由轴丝和附属纤维(accessory fiber)组成,轴丝的外面具有波动膜。     

优雅蝈螽精子形成期间微丝和微管蛋白的动态变化

【目的】分析微丝和微管蛋白在优雅蝈螽Gampsocleis gratiosa精子形成过程中的作用,为昆虫精子顶体复合体形成和细胞核重建机制研究奠定基础。【方法】应用免疫荧光、PAS-苏木精染色和透射电镜等方法,对优雅蝈螽成虫的精巢、雄性贮精囊和雌性受精囊内精子的发育以及微丝和微管蛋白在精子形成各个时期的分布进行了观察。【结果】精巢中,早期圆形精子细胞中微丝在精子细胞的某区域大量聚集,而微管蛋白随机分布在细胞质中。伸长的精子细胞中,顶体开始形成时,微丝首先在亚顶体区域出现,历经球形、短棒形,然后向细胞核的两侧扩展成倒"Y"形,接着形成箭头形;在顶体的外周即微丝的周围,细胞核周围以及鞭毛中发现微管蛋白。在雄虫贮精囊和雌虫受精囊中,精子和精子束中仅有微管存在,且仅存在于鞭毛中;精子头部的微丝和微管蛋白均消失。【结论】综合分析,我们认为微丝和微管作为"脚手架"结构在优雅蝈螽精子形成期间参与顶体复合体形成和细胞核重建,精子成熟形成精子束过程中"脚手架"结构拆除。     

Nek2B stimulates zygotic centrosome assembly in Xenopus laevis in a kinase-independent manner

Pronuclear migration and formation of the first mitotic spindle depend upon assembly of a functional zygotic centrosome. For most animals, this involves both paternal and maternal contributions as sperm basal bodies are converted into centrosomes competent for microtubule nucleation through recruitment of egg proteins. Nek2B is a vertebrate NIMA-related protein kinase required for centrosome assembly, as its depletion from egg extracts delays microtubule aster formation from sperm basal bodies. Using Xenopus as a model system, we now show that protein expression of Nek2B begins during mid-oogenesis and increases further upon oocyte maturation. This is regulated, at least in part, at the level of protein translation. Nek2B protein is weakly phosphorylated in mitotic egg extracts but its recruitment to the sperm basal body, which occurs independently of its kinase activity, stimulates its phosphorylation, possibly through sequestration from a phosphatase present in mitotic egg cytoplasm. Importantly, although Nek2B is not required to organize acentrosomal microtubule asters, we show that addition of either active or kinase-dead recombinant Nek2B can restore centrosome assembly in a dose-dependent manner to a depleted extract. These results support a model in which maternal Nek2B acts to promote assembly of a functional zygotic centrosome in a kinase-independent manner.     

The Ascidian Sperm Reaction

SYNOPSIS. Ascidian sperm are simplified by omission of the midpieceand proximal centriole with the single mitochondrion locatednext to the nucleus in the head. Small acrosome- like vesiclesappear in some species but their distribution is unclear. Spermstructure correlates well with the location of fertilization;members of the orders Phlebobranchiata and Stolidobranchiatawith external fertilization have sperm with short heads andlong tails, while sperm from the exclusively internally fertilizingAplousobranchiata have relatively longer heads and shorter tails. The mitochondrion swells when the sperm contacts the chorion,then translocates along the tail as it enters the chorion tobe discarded when the tail disappears inside. Structural changesalso occur in the anterior sperm head that have been interpretedas an acrosome reaction. Proteolytic enzymes are involved inpenetration of the chorion. The mitochondrial transformationis under control of intracellular pH and Ca²⁺ levels with thesperm releasing H⁺ and taking up Ca²⁺ during the sperm reaction.Acid release is from inactivation of a Na⁺ requiring acidificationsystem and triggering of a Cl^– releasing HCO₃ requiringacid release system. An increase in intracellular pH increasesthe permeability to Ca²⁺, resulting in increased intracellularCa²⁺, the proximal trigger to the mitochondrial reaction.     

Centrosome assembly in vitro: role of gamma-tubulin recruitment in Xenopus sperm aster formation

Centrioles organize microtubules in two ways: either microtubules elongate from the centriole cylinder itself, forming a flagellum or a cilium ("template elongation"), or pericentriolar material assembles and nucleates a microtubule aster ("astral nucleation"). During spermatogenesis in most species, a motile flagellum elongates from one of the sperm centrioles, whereas after fertilization a large aster of microtubules forms around the sperm centrioles in the egg cytoplasm. Using Xenopus egg extracts we have developed an in vitro system to study this change in microtubule-organizing activity. An aster of microtubules forms around the centrioles of permeabilized frog sperm in egg extracts, but not in pure tubulin. However, when the sperm heads are incubated in the egg extract in the presence of nocodazole, they are able to nucleate a microtubule aster after isolation and incubation with pure calf brain tubulin. This provides a two-step assay that distinguishes between centrosome assembly and subsequent microtubule nucleation. We have studied several centrosomal antigens during centrosome assembly. The CTR2611 antigen is present in the sperm head in the peri-centriolar region. gamma-tubulin and certain phosphorylated epitopes appear in the centrosome only after incubation in the egg extract. gamma-tubulin is recruited from the egg extract and associated with electron-dense patches dispersed in a wide area around the centrioles. Immunodepletion of gamma-tubulin and associated molecules from the egg extract before sperm head incubation prevents the change in microtubule-organizing activity of the sperm heads. This suggests that gamma-tubulin and/or associated molecules play a key role in centrosome formation and activity.     

Microtubules are required for centrosome expansion and positioning while microfilaments are required for centrosome separation in sea urchin eggs during fertilization and mitosis

Centrosomes undergo cell cycle-dependent changes in shape and separations, changes that govern the organization of the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is largely organized by the centrosome; however, this investigation explores the importance of cytoskeletal elements in directing centrosome shape. Since the sea urchin egg during fertilization and mitosis displays dramatic and synchronous changes in centrosome shape, the effects of cytoskeletal inhibitors on centrosome compaction, expansion, and separation were explored by the use of anticentrosome immunofluorescence microscopy. Centrosome expansion and separation was studied during two phases: the transition after sperm incorporation, when the compact sperm centrosome enlarges and the sperm aster develops, and from prometaphase to telophase, when the compact spindle poles enlarge. Compaction was investigated when the dispersed centrosome at interphase condenses into the two spindle poles at prometaphase. Although centrosome expansion and separation typically occur concurrently, beta-mercaptoethanol results in centrosome separation independent of expansion. Microtubule inhibitors prevent centrosome expansion and separation, and expanded centrosomes collapse. Since pronuclear union is arrested by microtubule inhibitors, this treatment also affords the opportunity to explore the relative attractiveness of the male and female pronuclei for these centrosomal antigens. Both pronuclei acquire centrosomal material; though only the male centrosome is capable of organizing a functional bipolar mitotic apparatus at first division, the female centrosome nucleates a monaster. Microfilament inhibition (cytochalasin D) prevents centrosome separation but not expansion or compaction. These results demonstrate that as the centrosome shapes the cytoskeleton, the cytoskeleton alters centrosome shape.     

Biogenesis of the centrosome during mammalian gametogenesis and fertilization

Summary Mammalian gametogenesis results in the production of highly specialized cells, sperm and oocytes, that are complementary in their arsenal of organelles and molecules necessary for normal embryonic development. Consequently, some of the zygotic structures, as illustrated in this review on the centrosome, are a combination of complementary paternal and maternal contributions. Mammalian oocytes are deprived of their centrioles during oogenesis, yet at the same time they generate a huge cytoplasmic reserve of centrosomal proteins. The active centrosome of spermatogenic stem cells is reduced to a single centriole that does not possess microtubule-nucle-ating activity. This centrosomal activity is restored at fertilization, when the sperm centriole is released into the oocyte cytoplasm, from which it attracts the oocyte-derived proteins of pericentriolar material and ultimately converts itself into an active zygotic centrosome. Subsequently, the microtubules around the zygotic centrosome are organized into a radial array called the sperm aster, that guides the apposition of male and female pronuclei, and the union of paternal and maternal genomes in the cytoplasm of a fertilized oocyte. The original sperm centriole duplicates and gives rise to the first mitotic spindle. This biparental mode of centrosome inheritance is seen in most mammals, except for rodents, where both centrioles are degraded during spermiogenesis and the zygotic centrosome is organized without any paternal contributions. The studies of centrosomal inheritance at fertilization provide the platform for designing new safe methods of assisted-reproduction and infertility treatments in humans.     

Use of atomic force microscopy for morphological and morphometric analyses of acrosome intact and acrosome-reacted human sperm

The objective of this study was to use atomic force microscopy (AFM), with submicron resolution, for morphophologic and morphometric analyses of acrosome intact and acrosome-reacted human sperm heads. A mixed population of acrosome intact and reacted sperm was produced by treating capacitated sperm with A23187, which induced the acrosome reaction in approximately 50% of total sperm population. This A23187-treated sperm suspension was then plated onto a coverslip and acrosome reacted sperm were preidentified by their specific staining with rhodamine-conjugated Concanavalin A. The sperm coverslip was then air-dried and scanned by a Nanoscope IIIa atomic force microscope, using the contact mode. Top and side view images processed through the illuminate mode revealed three dimensional sperm head contour, with the highest point situated in the head posterior in both acrosome intact and acrosome reacted sperm. Maximum height, length, and width measured in 50 acrosome intact and 50 acrosome-reacted sperm were the same in both populations. However, head length at half maximum height was significantly decreased in acrosome reacted sperm (2.99 +/- 0.24 microm vs. 3.56 +/- 0.32 microm of acrosome intact sperm), due to the sudden change of the height contour from the maximum peak to the anterior tip of acrosome-reacted sperm. Our results described here can therefore be used to differentiate acrosome intact and reacted sperm from each other. This would allow future studies on subcellular changes, related to the acrosome reaction, at the submicron resolution level under more physiological conditions, since AFM does not require fixing or staining of the samples.     

The role of structural integrity of the fertilising spermatozoon in early human embryogenesis.

While the fertilising spermatozoon supplies the active centre directing the human zygote's first mitotic division, the relative contributions of the sperm head and tail (as well as the importance of the sperm's general structural integrity) to subsequent developmental processes remain incompletely studied. The sperm nucleus contains paternal chromatin necessary for restoration of a diploid genome, but the functional role of the sperm tail (either attached or dissected) in early human embryonic growth is not known. In this investigation using oocytes donated by in vitro fertilisation patients, human oocytes were injected with isolated sperm heads (n = 73), isolated sperm flagella (n = 11) or both (dissected sperm heads + free sperm tails, n = 26). The formation of bipronucleate zygotes was recorded for each method. Among oocytes surviving injection with isolated sperm heads, 44 of 66 (67%) formed two pronuclei. Of oocytes receiving only sperm tails, 2 of 11 (18%) displayed two pronuclei, but a single polar body was evident in both cases. When dissected spermatozoa parts (head + tail) were jointly injected, 12 of 26 (46%) developed two pronuclei. From embryos resulting from each of these three fertilisation regimes, blastomere biopsies were obtained and subjected to multiprobe fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis to detect mosaicism or aneuploidy arising from these experimental treatments. Only embryos with growth sufficient to permit sampling of at least two blastomeres were evaluated, and FISH analysis was successful in 25 of 29 (86%) embryos tested. Of 12 embryos derived from injection of an isolated sperm head, only one was normal diploid; the remaining 11 were mosaic. Both embryos resulting from injection of an unattached sperm tail were mosaic. Of 11 embryos generated from oocyte injection with sperm head + tail segments, 10 (91%) were mosaic and only one was normal diploid. Results from this study show that injection of isolated sperm segments can permit oocyte activation and bipronuclear formation. However, a high rate of mosaicism in human embryos originating from disrupted sperm or sperm components suggests that more than a 'sum of parts' is needed for later development. The structural integrity of the intact fertilising spermatozoon appears to contribute to normal human early embryogenesis.     

Non-isotopic detection of chromosome 1 in human meiosis and demonstration of disomic sperm nuclei

Summary Nonradioactive in situ hybridization with the biotin-labeled chromosome 1-specific probe pUC1.77 was performed on human mitotic and meiotic chromosomes, and on sperm nuclei. The streptavidine-horseradish-peroxidase and diaminobenzidine detection system demonstrated heteromorphisms in the Iq12 heterochromatic region, not only in mitotic cells but also in mature sperm heads. The localization of chromosome 1 could be traced through all meiotic stages and in the sperm nuclei. The frequency of chromosome 1 disomy in human sperm, as indicated by two distinct hybridization signals, was calculated to be 0.41%.     

Nek2 localizes to multiple sites in mitotic cells, suggesting its involvement in multiple cellular functions during the cell cycle.

Nek2 is a mammalian protein kinase that is structurally homologous to NIMA, a mitotic regulator in Aspergillus nidulans. To understand the possible cellular processes in which Nek2 participates during the cell cycle, we investigated the expression and subcellular localization of Nek2 in mitotic cells. The Nek2 protein levels were observed to be regulated in a cell cycle stage-specific manner in cultured cells. The cell cycle stage specificity of Nek2 expression was also confirmed in cells undergoing mitosis in vivo. Nek2 proteins were localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm throughout the cell cycle, but exhibited dynamic changes in distribution, depending on the cell cycle stage. Nek2 was associated with chromosomes from prophase to metaphase and then was dissociated upon entering into anaphase. Nek2 then appeared at the midbody of the cytoplasmic bridge at telophase. Nek2 was also associated with the centrosome throughout the cell cycle as observed previously by others. Additionally, the nuclear localization of Nek2 was increased during S phase. Such dynamic behavior of Nek2 suggests that Nek2 may be a mitotic regulator that is involved in diverse cell cycle events.     

Proper recruitment of gamma-tubulin and D-TACC/Msps to embryonic Drosophila centrosomes requires Centrosomin Motif 1

Centrosomes are microtubule-organizing centers and play a dominant role in assembly of the microtubule spindle apparatus at mitosis. Although the individual binding steps in centrosome maturation are largely unknown, Centrosomin (Cnn) is an essential mitotic centrosome component required for assembly of all other known pericentriolar matrix (PCM) proteins to achieve microtubule-organizing activity at mitosis in Drosophila. We have identified a conserved motif (Motif 1) near the amino terminus of Cnn that is essential for its function in vivo. Cnn Motif 1 is necessary for proper recruitment of gamma-tubulin, D-TACC (the homolog of vertebrate transforming acidic coiled-coil proteins [TACC]), and Minispindles (Msps) to embryonic centrosomes but is not required for assembly of other centrosome components including Aurora A kinase and CP60. Centrosome separation and centrosomal satellite formation are severely disrupted in Cnn Motif 1 mutant embryos. However, actin organization into pseudocleavage furrows, though aberrant, remains partially intact. These data show that Motif 1 is necessary for some but not all of the activities conferred on centrosome function by intact Cnn.