Ultra‐structural analysis of human spermatozoa by aperture scanning near‐field optical microscopy

Troian, Barbara; Boscolo, Rita; Ricci, Giuseppe; Lazzarino, Marco; Zito, Gabriella; Prato, Stefano Del; Andolfi, Laura

doi:10.1002/jbio.201960093

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…As shown in Figure 3, the helicoidal organization of mitochondria in the midpiece region is well discernible in normal spermatozoa [94], and other structural features of healthy and anomalous spermatozoa are detected, all well resembling those observed in transmission electron microscopy images [95]. These works demonstrate the ability of SNOM to visualize inner cellular compartments with a typical contrast (transmission and reflection) for standard microscopy but with a higher resolution [94,95]. The ability to detect differences in the optical contrast of cellular structures and avoid standard staining protocols is very appealing, as staining can mask structural features in some cases at very high resolutions.…”

Section: Inner Cellular Organization Of Spermatozoasupporting

confidence: 66%

Scanning Probe Microscopies: Imaging and Biomechanics in Reproductive Medicine Research

Andolfi

Battistella

Zanetti

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Basic and translational research in reproductive medicine can provide new insights with the application of scanning probe microscopies, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). These microscopies, which provide images with spatial resolution well beyond the optical resolution limit, enable users to achieve detailed descriptions of cell topography, inner cellular structure organization, and arrangements of single or cluster membrane proteins. A peculiar characteristic of AFM operating in force spectroscopy mode is its inherent ability to measure the interaction forces between single proteins or cells, and to quantify the mechanical properties (i.e., elasticity, viscoelasticity, and viscosity) of cells and tissues. The knowledge of the cell ultrastructure, the macromolecule organization, the protein dynamics, the investigation of biological interaction forces, and the quantification of biomechanical features can be essential clues for identifying the molecular mechanisms that govern responses in living cells. This review highlights the main findings achieved by the use of AFM and SNOM in assisted reproductive research, such as the description of gamete morphology; the quantification of mechanical properties of gametes; the role of forces in embryo development; the significance of investigating single-molecule interaction forces; the characterization of disorders of the reproductive system; and the visualization of molecular organization. New perspectives of analysis opened up by applying these techniques and the translational impacts on reproductive medicine are discussed.

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Section: Inner Cellular Organization Of Spermatozoasupporting

confidence: 66%

Scanning Probe Microscopies: Imaging and Biomechanics in Reproductive Medicine Research

Andolfi

Battistella

Zanetti

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Section: Morphology Of the Seminiferous Tubulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The nucleus, occupying a significant portion of the head volume, is the repository for genetic information the male progenitor contributes. The flagellum is the mobile apparatus, segmented into the neck, middle piece, principal piece, and endpiece [60,61] (see Figure 3). Several studies conducted in preclinical models have shown that the STs external and internal architecture is significantly damaged due to exposure to HH, attributed to ROS production, and subsequently, cell damage [62][63][64].…”

Section: Morphology Of the Seminiferous Tubulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia Associated with High Altitude on Spermatogenesis and Seminal Parameters: A Literature Review

Cornejo-Guerra,

Salazar-Ardiles,

Morales

et al. 2024

Cells

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Preclinical research has provided compelling evidence indicating that exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) results in a deterioration of spermatogenesis. This adverse effect extends to the underlying molecular mechanisms, progressively leading to impairments in the seminiferous epithelium and germ cells and alterations in semen parameters. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated that animals exposed to HH, whether in natural high-altitude environments or under simulated hypoxic conditions, exhibit damage to the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogenesis, an increase in germline cell apoptosis, and structural alterations in the seminiferous tubules. One of the primary mechanisms associated with the inhibition of differentiation and an increase in apoptosis among germ cells is an elevated level of oxidative stress, which has been closely associated with HH exposure. Human studies have shown that individuals exposed to HH, such as mountaineers and alpinists, exhibit decreased sperm count, reduced motility, diminished viability, and increased sperm with abnormal morphology in their semen. This evidence strongly suggests that exposure to HH may be considered a significant risk factor that could elevate the prevalence of male infertility. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive description and propose potential mechanisms that could elucidate the infertility processes induced by HH. By doing so, it contributes to expanding our understanding of the challenges posed by extreme environments on human physiology, opening new avenues for research in this field.

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“…AFM provides a technology that can also be integrated with other microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) [ 23 , 24 ], total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], aperture correction microscopy (ACM) [ 28 ], correlative stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STEDM) [ 29 , 30 , 31 ], fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) [ 32 , 33 ], stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) [ 34 , 35 ], super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) [ 36 ], tip-enhanced raman spectroscopy (TERS) [ 37 , 38 , 39 ], scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) [ 40 , 41 , 42 ], and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) [ 43 ]. These correlative approaches offer a good spatial (nm) and high temporal (ms) resolution to study cellular and molecular biophysics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review: Cantilever-Based Sensors for High Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

Alunda¹,

Lee

2020

Sensors

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This review critically summarizes the recent advances of the microcantilever-based force sensors for atomic force microscope (AFM) applications. They are one the most common mechanical spring–mass systems and are extremely sensitive to changes in the resonant frequency, thus finding numerous applications especially for molecular sensing. Specifically, we comment on the latest progress in research on the deflection detection systems, fabrication, coating and functionalization of the microcantilevers and their application as bio- and chemical sensors. A trend on the recent breakthroughs on the study of biological samples using high-speed atomic force microscope is also reported in this review.

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Ultra‐structural analysis of human spermatozoa by aperture scanning near‐field optical microscopy

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

Scanning Probe Microscopies: Imaging and Biomechanics in Reproductive Medicine Research

Scanning Probe Microscopies: Imaging and Biomechanics in Reproductive Medicine Research

Consequences of Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia Associated with High Altitude on Spermatogenesis and Seminal Parameters: A Literature Review

Review: Cantilever-Based Sensors for High Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

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