Spermatozoon

We present in this paper the first ultrastructural study of the spermatozoon of species of the genus Bianium Stunkard, 1930, namely Bianium plicitum and Bianium arabicum belonging to the family Lepocreadiidae. Specimens are parasites of the tetraodontid teleosts Lagocephalus laevigatus caught in the Atlantic Ocean and Lagocephalus sceleratus caught in Pacific Ocean, respectively. Live worms were fixed and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Observations of numerous cross and longitudinal sections of the spermatozoa of B. plicitum and B. arabicum demonstrated the general pattern described in all previously studied Lepocreadioidea, namely two axonemes with 9+ "1" pattern of Trepaxonemata, two mitochondria, a nucleus, parallel cortical microtubules, and an external ornamentation of the plasma membrane associated with spine-like bodies. The maximum number of cortical microtubules and the external ornamentation were not located at the anterior extremity of the spermatozoon but at a more posterior level, as in all the species of Lepocreadioidea studied to date. Differences observed between spermatozoa of B. plicitum and B. arabicum were observed in: (1) the location of the first mitochondrion, (2) size of cortical microtubules which were longer in B. arabicum than in B. plicitum, and (3) the order of the disappearance of the axonemes, mitochondrion, and cortical microtubules toward the posterior region of the spermatozoon. Only the nucleus reaches into the posterior extremity of the spermatozoon in these two species. The general pattern of the spermatozoon described in these two species exhibit the general model in the genus Bianium.

This paper describes the ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoon of Heterolebes maculosus. It is the first study of this kind concerning the Opistholebetidae (Platyhelminthes, Digenea). The ultrastructural elements observed in the spermatozoon are: two axonemes with 9+"1" pattern of Trepaxonemata and their attachment zones, two mitochondria, a nucleus, cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane and spine-like bodies. The number and the disposition of cortical microtubules, the organisation of 11 cortical microtubules disposed in semi-circle around the first mitochondrion in the external ornamentation region and the organisation of the posterior part of the spermatozoon are discussed. Three principal types of posterior part of digenean spermatozoa are proposed. The similarity between the spermatozoon of the Opistholebetidae H. maculosus and Opecoelidae enables us to confirm that these two families are closely related.

Introduction: In the present study, we assessed the effects of β-carotene on Titanium oxide Nanoparticle (TNP) induced mouse Spermatozoon Stem Cells (SSCs) apoptosis, at molecular level.
Methods: After isolation from cryptorchid mouse testis and characterization, spermatogonial stem cells were divided into four groups. In the control group, spermatogonial cells were cultured in α-MEM supplemented with 2% BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin). β-Carotene (BC) group was composed of control culture condition supplemented with 1 µg/ml β-carotene. TNP group comprised control culture condition supplemented with 1 µg/ml titanium oxide (TiO2). Ultimately the last group contained control culture condition supplemented with both 1 µg/ml BC and 1 µg/ml TiO2for three days. After that, spermatozoon viability was evaluated by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, apoptotic and necrotic indices with Annexin V/PI kit and gene expression of CASP3 and MAPK14 using qRT-PCR method.
Results: TiO2 could significantly decrease viability of the cultured spermatozoon in TNP group compared to the control group. In BC group, we determined increased frequency of live spermatozoon compared to TNP or control group. Expression of apoptotic related genes significantly increased in TNP group. Spermatozoon induced by titanium oxide might be useful in clinical procedures. Measurement of apoptosis index using Annexin V/PI method also showed significant increase in apoptotic index of germ cells in TiO2 treated spermatozoon (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Expression of apoptotic related genes in cultured spermatozoon could efficiently be decreased by β-carotene treatment. Application of BC had a potential protective effect in preventing apoptosis in germ cells and might be useful in clinic.