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Morphologie des spermatozoïdes

Sperm morphology

Andrologie volume 7, pages 419–426 (1997)Cite this article

Resume

La morphologie des spermatozoïdes est l’un des paramètres qualitatifs de la spermatogenèse. En raison des différentes techniques utilisées, de la définition de la normalité et des différents types d’anomalies, la morphologie reste trop souvent une caractéristique mal utilisée en pratique courante. Les anomalies morphologiques peuvent être d’origine soit testiculaire, soit, mais cela reste à prouver, d’origine post-testiculaire. L’étiologie de ces anomalies est d’ordre génétique, et dans ce cas tous les gamètes sont atteints, ou constituée par une pathologie endogène dont l’exemple le plus souvent évoqué, bien que non formellement confirmé, est le varicocèle. Mais il existe aussi des facteurs exogènes qui induisent des anomalies morphologiques, qu’ils soient de nature chimique comme certains médicaments ou insecticides, ou physique comme par exemple la chaleur. L’analyse de la morphologie des spermatozoïdes apporte des résultats qui ont une utilité à la fois comme indicateur de santé du testicule (lors d’exposition à des agents chimiques ou physiques d’ordre professionnel) et comme indicateur de la fertilité potentielle, puisque la morphologie est corrélée à la mobilité des gamètes, et impliquée dans la fécondation à travers la réaction acrosomique.

Abstract

Spermatozoa morphology is one of the qualitative characteristics of spermatogenesis. However, because of both the variations in the definition of normal morphology and the existence of different kinds of sperm abnormalities as well as the use of various techniques of morphology assessment, such a parameter is poorly used in usual laboratory work. Morphological sperm anomalies can be from testicular or post-testicular origines, while the latter is still unproved. The causes of such anomalies are either from genetic origines, but in these cases any spermatozoa demonstrate this anomaly, or due to an endogenous factor with varicocele the most usually quoted but unproved pathology, But exogenous factors, either chemical such as drugs and pesticides or physical such as heat, are also responsible for morphological sperm anomalies. Analysis of sperm morphology is indicative of both the testicular health status (in cases of occupational exposure to chemical or physical toxics) and the fertility potential since morphology is correlated to sperm motility and involved in fertilization through the acrosome reaction.

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  1. Centre de Stérilité Masculine, Hôpital de la Grave, 31052, Toulouse Cedex

    Mieusset R.

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Mieusset, R. Morphologie des spermatozoïdes. Androl. 7, 419–426 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03035267

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Basic and Clinical Andrology

ISSN: 2051-4190