The Drosophila Ten-m (also called Tenascin-major, or odd Oz (odz)) gene has been associated with a pair-rule phenotype. We identified and characterized new alleles of Drosophila Ten-m to establish that this gene is not responsible for segmentation defects but rather causes defects in motor neuron axon routing. In Ten-m mutants the inter-segmental nerve (ISN) often crosses segment boundaries and fasciculates with the ISN in the adjacent segment. Ten-m is expressed in the central nervous system and epidermal stripes during the stages when the growth cones of the neurons that form the ISN navigate to their targets. Over-expression of Ten-m in epidermal cells also leads to ISN misrouting. We also found that Filamin, an actin binding protein, physically interacts with the Ten-m protein. Mutations in cheerio, which encodes Filamin, cause defects in motor neuron axon routing like those of Ten-m. During embryonic development, the expression of Filamin and Ten-m partially overlap in ectodermal cells. These results suggest that Ten-m and Filamin in epidermal cells might together influence growth cone progression.

To examine the efficacy of motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and intracytoplasmic morphologically-selected sperm injection (IMSI) for unexplained infertility. Methods This historical study, included 271 couples with primary, unexplained infertility/male subfertility, treated at an outpatient, IVF clinic, 2015-2018. These couples underwent MSOME after �3 failed intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles and �1 failed IVF-ICSI cycle. They proceeded to intracytoplasmic morphologically-selected sperm injection (IMSI) within 6 months of MSOME. IMSI is conducted on the day of oocyte pickup with a fresh semen sample. Pregnancy and delivery rates were analyzed. Results The cohort was divided based on percentage of normal cells at MSOME: Group A included 55 with no normal cells, Group B, 184 with 0.5%� normal cells �1.5% and Group C, 32 with �2% normal cells. Normal spermatozoa were found in 49 (89%) of Group A after extensive search. Group A had higher pregnancy rate (62.7%) compared to B (47.2%, P = 0.05) and C (28.1%, P = 0.002). Group B had higher pregnancy rate than C (p = 0.045). Delivery rate was higher in Group A (52.1%) compared to B (34.1%, p = 0.023) and C (21.9%, p = 0.007). Pregnancy and delivery rates were higher in A compared to B+C (p = 0.018, p = 0.01, respectively). Conclusions MSOME may be useful for evaluating unexplained infertility. IMSI can be recommended for men with <2% normal spermatozoa at MSOME.

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