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Analyse de la structure chromatinienne du sperme par la cytométrie en flux à l’acridine orange. — intérêt clinique

Assessment of sperm chromatin structure using flow cytometry with acridine orange staining. Clinical interest

Andrologie volume 9, pages 261–271 (1999)Cite this article

Résumé

L’ADN nucléosomal du spermatozoïde, lié à des histones, se transforme durant la spermatogénèse en une forme spéciale liée à des protéines basique, les protamines. Ce processus permet au noyau du spermatozoïde de se condenser pour devenir mature. Cette maturation s’achève dans l’épididyme. Lorsque le spermatozoïde pénètre dans l’ovocyte, les protamines se détachent pour être remplacées par des histones et le noyau peut se déployer pour former le pronucléus mâle. La cytométrie en flux à l’acridine orange est une technique objective particulièrement bien adaptée à l’investigation de la structure de la chromatine, tant à l’échelon de chacun des spermatozoïdes, qu’à l’échelon de tout l’éjaculat. Elle permet de tracer les noyaux des cellules jenes durant toute la spermatogenèse, du stade diploïde, passant par le stade tétraploïde. jusqu’au stade haploïde du spermatozoïde mature. Elle permet aussi de suivre le processus de maturation des spermatozoïdes durant la traversée de l’épididyme. Elle permet d’identifier des défauts de condensation de la chromatine spermatique de types divers: hypo-condensation, hyper-condensation, aberrations diverses ainsi que des troubles de la décondensation de la chromatine, détectables par une épreuvein vitro. Ces défauts sont susceptibles de perturber le pouvoir fécondant des spermatozoïdes, même après micro-injection dans l’ovocyte. Une meilleure compréhension des conditions assurant l’intégrité et la stabilité de la chromatine nucléaire pourrait dans l’avenir, nous aider à améliorer la qualité des techniques utilisées en procréation médicalement assistée.

Abstract

During spermatozogenesis, sperm nucleosomal DNA type, linked to histones, is transformed into a special form bound to small basic proteins, the protamines. This process allows sperm nucleus to condense and mature. This maturation process is achieved in the epididymis. When a spermatozoon enters an oocyte, protamines are released and replaced by histones, enabling the sperm nucleus to expand into a male pronucleus. Flow cytometry using acridine orange staining is an objective and quantitative technique well-adapted for the investigation of the chromatin structure at the level of each spermatozoon, as well as the whole ejaculate. This technique allows tracing the young sperm cell nuclei from the diploid stage, through tetraploid until the final haploid stage in mature spermatozoa. It allows also following the sperm maturation process during the epididymal transit. It detects various sperm chromatin condensation defects, hypocondensation, hypercondensation or other aberrations, as well as decondensation defects by using an in vitro assay. These defects may impair sperm fertilizing ability, even after sperm microinjection into the oocyte. Better understanding of sperm chromatin integrity and stability prerequisites might help us improving the quality of various technologies used in assisted medical procreation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d’infertilité masculine, Centre médical Assaf Harofé, 70300, Zerifin, Israël

    Y. Soffer

  2. Départment de biochimie clinique, Faculté de médecine Sackler, Université de Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv, Israël

    L. M. Lewin

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Soffer, Y., Lewin, L.M. Analyse de la structure chromatinienne du sperme par la cytométrie en flux à l’acridine orange. — intérêt clinique. Androl. 9, 261–271 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03035238

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Basic and Clinical Andrology

ISSN: 2051-4190