A CASE OF AN INFERTILE MAN WITH SHORT-TAILED SPERMATOZOA

Ejaculated spermatozoa from an infertile patient were examined by scan ning and transmission electron microscopy. All spermatozoa had abnorma lities in the tail region. The abnormalities were divided into three t ypes: (a) spermatozoa with a spherical tail. The tail was larger than the head in volume. This type of abnormality accounted for about 60% o f the population; (b) spermatozoa with a blunt tail. The tails were ab out 2 mu m in diameter and about 7 mu m in length. This type of abnorm ality accounted for about 30% of the population of an ejaculate; (c) s permatozoa without a tail. Some of these had only a rudimentary tail. About 10% of the population belonged to this type In types A and B, al l components of the tail, except for dynein arms, were observed, but t hey were severely disarranged. Biopsy specimens of the testes and of t he nasal mucosa of this patient were also investigated. The testicular biopsy showed defects in manchette formation. Normal development of t he manchette could not be observed. The nasal epithelium showed absenc e of the inner dynein arms in the cilia.