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spermatocyte

spermato.site · being built

What it isA male germ cell in meiosis inside the seminiferous tubules of the testis, on the way to becoming sperm.
Comes fromPrimordial germ cell
AboutIn men one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium lasts 16 days, and the whole of spermatogenesis takes about 64 days.
SourceHeller CG, Clermont Y. Spermatogenesis in man: an estimate of its duration. Science. 1963;140(3563):184-6. PMID: 13953583
Statusbeing built; its twin, knowledge and helper come with spermato.site

Where it lives

The seminiferous epithelium of the testis, between the Sertoli cells, moving from the basement membrane toward the lumenhuman · PMID 23946533

What it does

Passes through meiosis: preleptotene at 1 hour after DNA synthesis, midpachytene at 16 days, spermatids at 32 days; the whole of spermatogenesis takes about 64 dayshuman · PMID 13953583
One cycle of the seminiferous epithelium lasts 16 days; a twelve-stage classification now follows acrosome developmenthuman · PMID 23946533

What goes wrong

Regardless of age there is substantial loss of potential sperm from degeneration of spermatocytes, but not spermatidshuman · PMID 18497337
Daily sperm production per testis tends to decline with advancing agehuman · PMID 18497337

Pictures 13

Immunofluorescence staining of meiotic chromosome spreads from an OA control with normal spermatogenesis (C) and patient P01 (D) using antibodies against SYCP3 and γH2AX. SYCP3 is shown in green and γH2AX in red. OA control spermatocytes showed stage-appropriate γH2AX localization, whereas P01 spermatocytes showed persistent nuclear-wide γH2AX staining and absence of a typical γH2AX-positive XY body. L, leptotene; Z, zygotene; P, pachytene; D, diplotene; P-like, pachytene-like. Scale bar, 10 μm. (human; Figure 3, panels C and D.)

Zheng, Wang, Wang et al 2026, Frontiers in Endocrinology · CC BY 4.0

Testicular tissue presents spermatocyte cysts in prepuberal mice and adult humans. (A) Electron microscopy images of spermatocytes at prophase I presenting fragments of synaptonemal complex (yellow arrowheads) which are connected by intercellular bridges (orange arrowheads). The centrosome of one of the spermatocytes is enhanced in an amplified image. Scale bars are included in each image. Adapted: EM panel A only; IF panels B, C, and D excluded. (mouse (prepubertal testis, prophase I spermatocytes); FIGURE 4, panel A only (electron microscopy of spermatocyte cysts; IF panels B-D excluded).)

Perez-Moreno, Lopez-Jimenez, Zapata-Polo et al 2026, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · CC BY 4.0

CCDC92 regulates the manchette for the sperm head shaping. (A) Immunofluorescence staining of WT and Ccdc92 KO testis sections with the ace-Tub antibody, Alexa Fluor 568-conjugated PNA, and DAPI. The arrowheads indicate small nuclear debris. (B and C) Quantifications of the falciform-shaped heads (B) and nuclear debris (C) in WT and Ccdc92 KO seminiferous tubules (n = 3 mice per genotype). (D-F) Testicular spermatids were isolated from the WT and Ccdc92 KO testes. (D) Immunofluorescence staining with DAPI, Alexa Fluor 568-conjugated PNA, and the alpha-Tub antibody. (E and F) Quantifications of the manchette length and quarter circular polar plots of the manchette angle (theta) representing the manchette defects. The schematic diagrams illustrate the manchette angles in WT and Ccdc92 KO spermatids. (G) Fluorescence staining of WT and Ccdc92 KO testicular spermatids with DAPI, Alexa Fluor 568-conjugated PNA, and FITC-conjugated phalloidin (F-actin). (H and I) TEM images of the heads of elongating (H) and elongated (I) spermatids in WT and Ccdc92 KO seminiferous tubules. Magnified images of the dashed boxed regions are shown on the right. Note that the anchoring of the acrosome (AC) to the nucleus (N) in elongating Ccdc92 KO spermatids appears unaltered, whereas manchette microtubules (MT) are unconventionally over-elongated. Data are presented as mean +/- SD. Unpaired two-tailed t-test was performed. ***P < 0.001. (Figure 4.)

Lu, Zi, Lyu et al 2025, Journal of Molecular Cell Biology · CC BY 4.0

CD71High (G3) cells reconstitute donor-derived spermatogenesis in transplanted testes. Representative fluorescence immunohistochemistry images show germ cell colonies derived from CD71high (G3) cells, similar to control colonies formed by unsorted fresh cells within recipient seminiferous tubules. Spermatogenic differentiation of both unsorted fresh cells and CD71high (G3) GC-SSCs was confirmed using lectin-peanut agglutinin (PNA) staining. Functional spermatogenic colonies derived from the transplanted cells were observed throughout the seminiferous tubules. Nuclei were counterstained with Hoechst 33342 (blue), and donor-derived germ cells were visualized using GFP expression. Scale bar = 50 um. (mouse (CD71high spermatogonial stem cells transplanted into recipient testes); Figure 5.)

Shin, Ahn, Kim et al 2026, Animal Cells and Systems · CC BY 4.0

Ultrastructure and markers of prepuberal meiotic cilia. (A) Triple immunolabelling of acetylated Tubulin (AcTub) (red), synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) (green) and ARL13b (yellow) in mouse spermatocytes in diplotene stage. (B-D) Triple immunolabelling of acetylated Tubulin (AcTub) (red), synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) (green) and CEP164 (magenta) in mouse spermatocytes during prophase I (zygotene, pachytene and diplotene). All images are z-projection of 30-60 frames of stack images of each cell. Scale bars represent 10 um. (E-J) Ultrastructure of axonemes in prepuberal meiosis. (E) Electron microscopy images of a ciliated spermatocyte. Amplified images of the cilia (E') and the Golgi apparatus (E''). (F) Centrosomes with Golgi derived vesicles in the maternal centriole. (G) Schematic representation of intracellular ciliogenesis pathway. (H) Prophase I spermatocyte. Amplified images of synaptonemal complex (H'). (I,J) Mid spermatids presenting preacrosomic vesicle. Enhanced images of the flagella are offered. Blue arrowheads point to Golgi apparatus vesicles. Red arrowheads point to fragments of synaptonemal complex. Green arrowheads point to nucleolus. Orange arrowheads point to intercellular bridge between spermatids. Scale bars are included in each image. (mouse (prepubertal mouse testis spermatocytes at prophase I stages of first spermatogenesis wave); FIGURE 3.)

Perez-Moreno, Lopez-Jimenez, Zapata-Polo et al 2026, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · CC BY 4.0

Eef1g-deficient spermatocytes exhibit synaptic defects. (A) Representative spread spermatocytes from 10-week-old control and Eef1g-cKO mice stained with antibodies against SYCP3 (green) and SYCP1 (red). Scale bars, 10 um. The chromosome axes showed that non-homologous synapsis was circled with white dashed lines. (B) Representative images of spermatocyte spreads from 10-week-old control and Eef1g-cKO mice stained for SYCP3 (green) and TEX12 (red). Scale bars, 10 um. The chromosome axes showed non-homologous synapsis were circled with white dashed lines. (C) Representative images of spermatocyte spreads from 10-week-old control and Eef1g-cKO mice stained for SYCP3 (green) and HORMAD1 (red). Scale bars: 10 um. The chromosome axes showed non-homologous synapsis were circled with white dashed lines. (mouse (10-week-old control and Eef1g-cKO mouse spermatocytes); FIGURE 4.)

Xu, Hu, Lu et al 2026, Advanced Science · CC BY 4.0

ELAPOR1 is essential for proacrosomal vesicle fusion, mitochondrial organization, and manchette formation. (A) Ultrastructural analysis of developing acrosomes in spermatids at different stages from Elapor1 flox and Elapor1 cKO mouse testes using transmission electron microscopy. Bar = 1 um. White arrows, proacrosomal vesicles; black arrows, pseudoacrosome-like structures. (B) Ultrastructural analysis of Elapor1 flox and Elapor1 cKO spermatozoa in cross sections and longitudinal sections using transmission electron microscopy. Bar = 200 nm for cross sections, and bar = 2 um for longitudinal sections. (C) Mitochondrial organization and acrosome structures of Elapor1 flox and Elapor1 cKO sperm were evaluated using MitoTracker and PNA staining. The nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Bar = 20 um in the main panels (left panels) and bar = 10 um in the magnified panels (right panels). (D) Spermatids at different stages collected from Elapor1 flox and Elapor1 cKO mice were stained with PNA and alpha-tubulin to observe elongation of the manchette structures. The nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Bar = 10 um. (Figure 3.)

Ding, Liang, Yang et al 2026, Theranostics · CC BY 4.0

Impairment of meiotic progression in spermatocytes of H3f4 H3.1/- substitution mice. (a) Cross-section immunofluorescent images showing cleaved PARP1 signal (green) in seminiferous tubules of H3f4 wt/- and H3f4 H3.1/- mice. gamma-H2A.X (red) and acrosome (cyan) were used to mark spermatocytes and spermatids, respectively. Scale bar: 50 um. (b) Quantification of testicular germ cells positive for cleaved PARP1 signal. (mouse; Fig. 5, panels a-b.) (mouse; Fig. 5.)

Komarov, Bammer, Liang et al 2026, Nature Communications · CC BY 4.0

Spermiogenic defects become detectable at the nuclear condensation phase in Pramel12-null mice. A, testicular sections from 4-month-old control and Pramel12-null mice were stained with HE. Tubules at different stages of the seminiferous cycle were indicated. Arrowheads mark elongating spermatids exhibiting abnormal nuclear morphology at condensation stage 13. The numbers indicate spermatids at the corresponding developmental stages. L, leptotene; Z, zygotene; P, pachytene; D, diplotene; and M, metaphase. The scale bar represents 50 um. B, periodic acid-Schiff staining of haploid spermatids during spermiogenesis from steps 1 to 16 in 4-month-old control and Pramel12-null mice. Malformed step 13 spermatids were observed during nuclear condensation in Pramel12-null mice. The scale bar represents 5 um. C, spermatids were stained with PNA and Hoechst 33342 during spermiogenesis in 4-month-old control and Pramel12-null mice. Malformed sperm heads and acrosomes were observed at step 13 in Pramel12-null mice. The scale bar represents 5 um. D, representative TEM images of acrosome biogenesis at Golgi, cap, acrosome, and maturation stages in control and Pramel12-deficient spermatids. Arrowheads indicate acrosomes. The scale bar represents 2 um. Representative of n = 3 (A-C) independent biological replicates with similar results per condition. PNA, peanut agglutinin; TEM, transmission electron microscopy. (Figure 4.)

Li, Wang, Li et al 2026, The Journal of Biological Chemistry · CC BY 4.0

Shoc1 KI spermatocytes exhibited incomplete synapsis. (A-C) Representative images of spread spermatocytes from adult Shoc1 KI homozygous ( Shoc1 KI/KI ) mice and littermate controls ( Shoc1 KI/+ ) co-stained with SYCP3 (green) and HORMAD1 (red, A), SYCP1 (red, B), SIX6OS1 (red, C). Scale bars, 10 um. (D,E) Enlarged views of spread spermatocytes co-stained with SYCP3 (green) and SYCP1 (red, D), SIX6OS1 (red, E). Scale bars, 10 um. ( F ) Quantification of synaptic defects in pachytene spermatocytes from adult Shoc1 KI homozygous ( Shoc1 KI/KI ) mice and littermate controls ( Shoc1 KI/+ ) using two-tailed Student's t-test; **** P < 0.0001; ** P < 0.01; error bars, mean +/- SEM; n, the total number of nuclei analyzed. XY, X and Y chromosomes; Auto, autosomes. (Figure 6.)

Zhang, Sun, Ji et al 2026, Nucleic Acids Research · CC BY 4.0

The structure of SC of spermatocytes in WT and Sox30 KO mice. (A) Co-immunofluorescence stain of SYCP3 (red) and SYCP1 (cyan) in chromosome spreads of spermatocytes from WT and KO mice (scale bar: 3 um). (B, C) Co-immunofluorescence stain of SYCP3 (red) and SYCE1 (cyan) in chromosome spreads of spermatocytes from WT and KO mice and the magnified view (scale bar: 3 um). (D, E) Co-immunofluorescence stain of SYCP3 (red) and SYCE2 (cyan) in chromosome spreads of spermatocytes from WT and KO mice and the magnified view (scale bar: 3 um). (F) Co-immunofluorescence stain of SYCP3 (red) and TEX12 (cyan) in chromosome spreads of spermatocytes from WT and KO mice (scale bar: 3 um). (G) REC8 (cyan) and SYCP3 (red) co-localization patterns in Sox30 KO spermatocytes. KO cells show discontinuous REC8 linear arrays (arrowheads) compared to WT. Scale bar: 3 um. (H) Quantification of inter-REC8 focus distances. Sox30 KO cells exhibit increased spacing (**** p < 0.0001, n = 167 cells from 3 mice for WT group, n = 81 cells from 3 mice for KO group, Student t test). DipSC: diplotene; LepSC: leptotene; PacSC: pachytene; ZygSC: zygotene. (mouse (spermatocytes from wild-type and Sox30 knockout mouse testes; meiosis I stages); Figure 3.)

Liu, Zhang, Jiang et al 2025, Cell Proliferation · CC BY 4.0

Immunofluorescent analysis of selected potential SSC markers expressed by rabbit SSC co-cultured with somatic testicular cells. representative flow-cytometric dot plots show gating strategy and ALDH analysis using a specific ALDEFLUOR kit (TC - testicular cells). The data from four biological replicates are expressed as the mean +/- SD (A). Rabbit SSC colonies in culture expressing several markers analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscope Zeiss LSM 700 (FITC - green channel, TL - transmitted light; magnification at 200x; scale bar = 50 um) (B). (Figure 4.)

Vasicek, Balazi, Svoradova et al 2026, Biomolecules · CC BY 4.0

Electron micrographs of cultured rabbit SSCs. TEM micrographs of an entire cell (A) with an oval shape with large round nucleus (N) surrounded by double nuclear envelope (Ne) and containing small nucleolus (Nc) and dense heterochromatin (H), while many round mitochondria (M) and different vacuoles (V), and few lipid droplets (L) and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) are present throughout the cytoplasm (B). (Figure 5.)

Vasicek, Balazi, Svoradova et al 2026, Biomolecules · CC BY 4.0

In the library

Papers 11

  1. Vašíček J, Baláži A, Svoradová A, Vozaf J, Bauer M, Tomka M, et al. Isolation and Characterization of Rabbit Spermatogonial Stem Cells as a Promising Animal Genetic Resource for Biodiversity Protection. Biomolecules. 2026;16:1278. PMID: 42793110.
  2. Zheng H, Wang Y, Wang J, Chen W, Chen J, Yang X, et al. A homozygous SPDYA variant associated with meiotic arrest and failed microdissection testicular sperm extraction in non-obstructive azoospermia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;17:1916743. PMID: 42769070.
  3. Pérez-Moreno I, López-Jiménez P, Zapata-Polo H, Pérez-Martín S, López-Panadés M, Urtasun-Elizari J, et al. The dynamics of ciliogenesis in prepubertal mouse meiosis reveals new clues about testis maturation. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2026;14:1910205. PMID: 42666407.
  4. Shin BJ, Ahn JS, Kim J, Lee J, Jung S, Jung SE, et al. CD71 defines functionally active spermatogonial stem cells with enhanced transplantation potential in mouse testes. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul). 2026;30:448-461. PMID: 42540347.
  5. Xu J, Hu Y, Lu X, Cai Y, Li T, Gao M, et al. eEF1G Orchestrates Translation to Ensure Meiotic Progression in Transcriptionally Quiescent Spermatocytes. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2026;13:e76264. PMID: 42381596.
  6. Zhang Y, Sun Q, Ji Z, Mo R, Zhou Y, Zhao J, et al. XPF-like domain in human SHOC1 is required for crossover formation and protecting autosome from MSUC. Nucleic Acids Res. 2026;54:gkag558. PMID: 42258546.
  7. Komarov PA, Bammer PC, Liang CY, Hotz HR, Fanourgakis G, Chun S, et al. The eutherian-specific histone H3.4 promotes germ cell development and reproductive fitness. Nat Commun. 2026;17:7212. PMID: 42248887.
  8. Ding C, Liang T, Yang M, Wang L, Yin X, Li G, et al. ELAPOR1 regulates VPS54-mediated GARP complex formation and proacrosomal vesicle fusion during spermatogenesis. Theranostics. 2026;16:5571-5588. PMID: 41993632.
  9. Li N, Wang X, Li H, Wang Z. PRAMEL12 orchestrates spermiogenesis to ensure male fertility in mice. J Biol Chem. 2026;302:111392. PMID: 41866036.
  10. Liu K, Zhang W, Jiang X, Chen J, Zhu L, Zhang Z, et al. SOX30 Governs Synaptonemal Complex Assembly and Homologous Recombination in Male Meiosis. Cell Prolif. 2026;59:e70158. PMID: 41467312.
  11. Lu Y, Zi X, Lyu Q, Li Q, Yin H, Wang Y, et al. Intraflagellar transport-associated CCDC92 is required for spermiogenesis and male fertility in mice. J Mol Cell Biol. 2025;17:mjaf022. PMID: 41378450.

sperm 11

Representative immunofluorescence images of TTC29 in spermatozoa from the fertile control. TTC29 signal was readily detected along the sperm flagellum. alpha-Tubulin labeled the sperm flagellum, and DAPI stained the nuclei. (human (fertile control spermatozoa); FIGURE 4, control arm (fertile control spermatozoa; left half, cols 84-845 of figure).)

Li, Wan, Feng et al 2026, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · CC BY 4.0

Transmission electron micrograph of a transverse section through the flagellum of a sperm from a fertile control, cropped from a figure that compares the fertile control with the proband. Control sperm flagella exhibited the canonical "9 + 2" axonemal organization. Yellow arrows indicate the central pair (CP), blue arrows indicate peripheral doublet microtubules (DMTs), and red arrows indicate outer dense fibers (ODFs). Scale bar, 200 nm. (human (fertile control donor spermatozoa); FIGURE 3, control arm.)

Li, Wan, Feng et al 2026, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · CC BY 4.0

Ultrastructure of sperm from Lrrc71-/- mice. A, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of epididymal sperm from Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. Adapted: SEM panel A only; TEM panels B and C, IF panel D, and quantification panels E and F excluded. (mouse (epididymal sperm, Lrrc71-/- and wild-type); Figure 3, panel A only (SEM of epididymal sperm; TEM panels B-C, IF panel D, and bar charts E-F excluded).)

Yuan, Xu, Ge et al 2026, The Journal of Biological Chemistry · CC BY 4.0

Structural and molecular defects of the sperm flagellum in Cfap251 knockout mice. (B, C) Immunofluorescence of sperm stained with TOMM20 (B, red) or SEPT4 (C, red), acetylated tubulin (green), and DAPI (blue), indicating mitochondrial and annulus defects in Cfap251-/- sperm. Scale bar, 5 um. Adapted: IF panels B and C only; TEM panels A and F, quantification panels D and E, and additional IF panels G-K excluded. (mouse (Cfap251 knockout and wild-type epididymal sperm); Figure 4, panels B and C (IF of mature sperm with TOMM20 and SEPT4; TEM panel A, quantification D-E, and IF G-K excluded).)

Liu, Wang, Zhou et al 2026, International Journal of Biological Sciences · CC BY 4.0

Ultrastructural flagellar abnormalities in the patient. Representative TEM micrographs showing cross sections of the midpiece, principal piece, and end piece of sperm flagella from a fertile control and the patient. Scale bars represent 100 nm. (Figure 5.)

Li, Tao, Ji et al 2026, Human Mutation · CC BY 4.0

CAPZA1 mutation leads to protein deficiency and impairs sperm progressive motility and flagellar ultrastructure. (A) Pedigree analysis was performed using whole-exome sequencing in an infertile family. Red-filled squares indicate infertile males, with the nucleotide variant information shown below the pedigree. (B) Sanger sequencing chromatograms show wild-type (WT) and mutant (c.11T>C) sequences, with the mutation site highlighted by red boxes and indicated by red arrows. The bar graph represents the number of individuals carrying the WT or CAPZA1 c.11T>C in normal ( n = 20) and asthenozoospermic ( n = 20) groups. (C) Western blot analysis of CAPZA1 expression in non-mutant asthenozoospermic patients (WT) ( n = 17) and mutant asthenozoospermic patients (CAPZA1 c.11T>C) ( n = 3). (D) Spearman correlation between CAPZA1 protein levels and progressive motility. (E) Transmission electron microscopy images of sperm flagella in WT and CAPZA1 c.11T>C sperm. The red numbers denote nine peripheral microtubule doublets, the yellow dash represents longitudinal columns. Scale bars = 500 nm, enlarged = 200 nm. Data are presented as mean +/- SD ( n = 3). ** p < 0.01 compared with WT group. (human (sperm from non-mutant and CAPZA1 c.11T>C asthenozoospermic patients); Figure 1.)

Lu, Li, Hu et al 2026, Frontiers in Endocrinology · CC BY 4.0

Ultrastructural abnormalities in sperm flagella revealed by transmission electron microscopy. A TEM analysis of sperm flagella from patient P2 (II:5) showing severely disorganized or absent axonemal microtubule doublets (DMTs). The axoneme structure in control presents a '9 + 2' microtubules arrangement, including mitochondrial sheath (MS, indicated with plum arrow), central pair of microtubules (CP, indicated with green arrow), outer dense fibers (ODFs, indicated with turquoise arrow), peripheral doublet microtubules (DMTs, indicated with yellow arrow), inner dynein arm (IDA, indicated with orange arrow), and outer dynein arm (ODA, indicated with red arrow) scale bars, 500 nm. B Quantification of abnormal axonemal cross-sections in patient P2 (II:5) compared to an unaffected control brother (II:1). (Fig. 3.)

Abbas, Hussain, Hui et al 2026, Basic and Clinical Andrology · CC BY 4.0

Ultrastructure of sperm from Lrrc71-/- mice. A, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of epididymal sperm from Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. B, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of epididymal sperm from Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. The yellow arrow indicates the detached acrosome from the nuclear membrane, the blue arrow indicates the partial absence of the mitochondrial sheath at the junction between the midpiece and principal piece of the sperm tail. Ac, acrosome; An, annulus; Fs, fiber sheath; Mi, mitochondrion; N, nucleus. C, representative TEM images of sperm cross sections from Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. CP, central microtubule; Fs, fiber sheath; M, mitochondrion; MTD, microtubule doublets; ODF, outer dense fiber. Scale bar is 200 nm. D, immunofluorescence (IF) staining was performed to visualize mitochondrial sheath (red color), SEPTIN4 protein expression (green color), and nuclei (blue color) in spermatozoa from Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. Scale bar is 10 um. E, percentage of sperm with abnormal midpiece-principal piece connections in Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. At least 200 sperm per mouse were counted (n = 3). F, percentage of SEPTIN4-positive sperm in Lrrc71+/+ and Lrrc71-/- mice. At least 200 sperm per mouse were counted (n = 3). All data are presented as mean +/- SD. (mouse (Lrrc71+/+ wild-type and Lrrc71-/- knockout mouse epididymal spermatozoa); Figure 3.)

Yuan, Xu, Ge et al 2026, The Journal of Biological Chemistry · CC BY 4.0

TENT5C poly(A) polymerase activity is required for fertility and spermiogenesis. a Box plot showing the average pups per litter obtained per adult male mouse after mating with 2 control females. Tent5c null/null (n = 11 mice) and Tent5c dcat/dcat (n = 6 mice) mice are compared to Tent5c wt/wt (n = 14 mice). b Box plot showing the number of flagella from cauda epididymides for Tent5c null/null (n = 16 mice) and Tent5c dcat/dcat mice (n = 9 mice), expressed relative to Tent5c wt/wt (n = 26 mice). c Bar plot showing the proportion of germ cell morphologies in semen isolated from the cauda epididymides of Tent5c wt/wt (n = 18 mice), Tent5c null/null (n = 11 mice), and Tent5c dcat/dcat (n = 8 mice). Quantification from Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. d Representative micrographs of epididymis cross sections (caput, upper; cauda, middle) and sperm from caudal epididymides (lower) stained with H&E. Sections from Tent5c null/null and Tent5c dcat/dcat mice are compared to Tent5c wt/wt. Sperm heads (nuclei) show a blue staining and flagella shades of pink. Scale, 40 um. n = 3 mice per condition. e Representative micrographs showing stage VII/VIII tubule cross sections stained with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS). Arrowheads indicate sperm heads. Scale, 20 um. n = 3 mice per condition. f Representative micrographs of stage VII/VIII tubule cross sections immunostaining from Tent5c wt/wt, Tent5c null/null, and Tent5c dcat/dcat. SYCP3 immunostaining (yellow) marks spermatocytes; PNA labeling (red) marks spermatid acrosomes, TUNEL immunostaining (green) marks apoptotic cells, and DAPI labeling (grey) marks nuclei. Scale, 20 um. n = 3 mice per condition. (Fig. 3.)

Baptissart, Gupta, Perez et al 2026, Nature Communications · CC BY 4.0

Transmission electron microscopy analysis of sperm flagellar ultrastructure. Representative transverse sections of the midpiece and principal piece from a fertile control and the proband are shown. Control sperm flagella exhibited the canonical "9 + 2" axonemal organization, whereas sperm flagella from the proband showed loss or poor definition of the central pair, loss or disorganization of peripheral doublet microtubules, and abnormal arrangement of outer dense fibers. Yellow arrows indicate the central pair (CP), blue arrows indicate peripheral doublet microtubules (DMTs), and red arrows indicate outer dense fibers (ODFs). (FIGURE 3.)

Li, Wan, Feng et al 2026, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · CC BY 4.0

Correlative optical and soft X-ray imaging of a normal mouse spermatozoon. (A) Bright-field optical micrograph of a single sperm cell. (B) Ptychographic soft X-ray phase map of the same cell. (B, C, D) Enlarged views of the boxed regions in panel (B); in (C), the annulus region is outlined by a yellow dashed rectangle; and in (D), the head-midpiece junction is indicated by a red arrow. (E) Cryogenic soft X-ray transmission computed tomography reconstruction of a sperm flagellum, with the axoneme, fibrous sheath, and mitochondrial sheath discernible. Scale bars: (A, B) 2 um; (C, E) 1 um. (mouse (normal mouse spermatozoon); Figure 2..)

Chen, Chen, Xiao et al 2026, Life Science Alliance · CC BY 4.0

  1. Li L, Wan F, Feng K, Qu X, Xia Y, Dong J, et al. A novel frameshift variant in TTC29 associated with total asthenozoospermia and male infertility. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2026;14:1937470. PMID: 42756534.
  2. Li M, Tao W, Ji Q, Yan D, Zhang C, Zhang Q, et al. A Novel Homozygous Mutation in ARL2BP Causes Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of the Flagella and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Hum Mutat. 2026;2026:7635300. PMID: 42643619.
  3. Abbas M, Hussain A, Hui M, Ali H, Lateef M, Hussain M, et al. A novel homozygous frameshift mutation in CFAP65 is associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella in a consanguineous Pakistani family. Basic Clin Androl. 2026;36:22. PMID: 42477516.
  4. Chen N, Chen H, Xiao J, He B, Zhang D, Yuan X, et al. Annulus fracture underlies radiation-induced sperm dysfunction revealed by multimodal nano-imaging. Life Sci Alliance. 2026;9:e202603693. PMID: 42203511.
  5. Yuan L, Xu C, Ge T, Li G, Meng S, Lu W, et al. LRRC71 is essential for sperm motility, fertilization, and male fertility. J Biol Chem. 2026;302:113176. PMID: 42167576.
  6. Baptissart M, Gupta A, Perez ML, Poirot AC, Papas BN, Guardia CM, et al. TENT5C extends Odf1 poly(A) tail to sustain sperm morphogenesis and fertility. Nat Commun. 2026;17:5421. PMID: 42009655.
  7. Liu L, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Tang D, Hua R, Li K, et al. CFAP251 Deficiency Induces Male Infertility and PCD-like Ciliary Defects by Disrupting TUBB4B and SLC25A4 Recruitment in Humans and Mice. Int J Biol Sci. 2026;22:2970-2985. PMID: 41943837.
  8. Lu H, Li G, Hu J, Ruan H, Zhao L, Li Y, et al. CAPZA1 deficiency disrupts sperm flagellar structure and motility, potentially involving the p300/SLC7A11 pathway. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026;17:1744836. PMID: 41858859.

In the library

cytology · hub