Abstract:

Objective To study the relationship of the ultrastructure of acid phosphatase（ACP） and the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in infertile patients,and to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Methods Semen specimens were collected from 10 fertile males and 10 infertile male patients,and the semen specimens were washed,centrifugalized,hatched with Gromori's method and embedded in epoxy resin. The ultra-thin sections were made,and the changes of the ultrastructure of ACP and spermatogenic cell apoptosis were determined by histochemistry using enzyme electron microscope. Results The results of histochemistry using enzyme electron microscope showed that the sperm morphology was normal in fertility group,the structures of acrosome,plasma membrane and mitochondria were integrity,and chromatin was regularly configurated. There were immature spermatogenic cells,macrophage cells and neutrophil cells in infertility group,lead-contacted ACP were showed in lysosome,and various abnormal types of acrosome in apoptotic spermatozoa were observed. The apoptotic bodies formed when apoptotic spermatozoa were phagocytosed,and myelin-like patterns formed as well. The concentration of chromatin and electron density in the nucleus of apoptotic spermatogenic cells were high,the nuclear membrane were expanded,ruptured and disintegrated,gap became wider,mitochondria crest were degraded,falled off or disappeared,and the form of apoptotic bodies and the cytoplasmic residual bodies were found. Compared with fertility group,the ACP positive reaction rate of infertility group was higher with statistical significance（P<0.05）. Conclusions The number of apoptotic spermatogenic cells is related closely to the activity and number of ACP. Apoptotic spermatogenic cells are abnormal for infertile males. Histochemistry using enzyme electron microscope is expected to become one way on diagnosing and treating male infertility.

Key words: Spermatogenic cells, Apoptosis, Acid phosphatase, Ultrastructure, Male infertility