Ultrastructural pathology of varicocele spermatozoa by using atomic force microscopy (AFM)

Ultrastructural investigation of pathological spermatozoa of patients havin g varicocele (grades I and III) in its natural environment (without fixatio n, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, etc.) was carried out by using Atomi c Force Microscope (AFM) in tapping mode, This is a unique technique to exa mine the topographical structure with precision and to obtain 3-D images, I t revealed structural alterations caused by the presence of varicocele. Not only neckpieces and flagella were defective. but also the head, particular ly, dimensions and heights are altered.