New fibrous sheath anomaly in spermatozoa of men with consanguinity

Abstract

Objective: The cause of the sperm motility impairment was investigated in infertile men.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University-based andrology laboratory.

Patients: Two unrelated consanguineous patients.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): The sperm flagella lengths were measured using quantitative analysis software and their ultrastructural anomalies were quantitatively recorded.

Result(s): A total of 67.5% of the flagella were truncated, and 100% lacked the medium region of the ribs of the fibrous sheath.

Conclusion(s): The data suggested a morphogenetic anomaly at the stage where rib precursors are formed during spermiogenesis. The consanguinity of these patients suggested a genetic origin for this newly discovered anomaly of the human sperm's fibrous sheath. The family tree appears to indicate an autosomal recessive inheritance.