Biochemical and physiological characterization of human spermatozoa using novel optical technologies - A new understanding of sperm functional competence

利用新型光学技术对人类精子进行生化和生理学表征——对精子功能能力的新认识

• 批准号: 491360700
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Stefan Schlatt
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Universidade de Coimbra
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/491360700?language=en
• 关键词: Biochemical; physiological; characterization; human; spermatozoa

Clincial and experimental sperm analysis relies on cellular features estimated by light microscopy. Sperm count, morphology and motility are currently determined as the primary endpoints. While these parameters present valuable readouts on gamete production in the testis, the functional features of spermatozoa and specifically their competence to fertilize is not adequately addressed. In recent years several biochemical tests were developed to better identify sperm functional competence. Such strategies are mandatory to improve sperm analysis and sperm selection in human and veterinary medicine. Our group has entered an alternative track by exploring the application of novel and innovative optical strategies for sperm analysis. We obtained many new insights into sperm integrity and function in a number of species and created several new diagnostic strategies. We hypothesize, that non-invasive optical strategies can be applied to obtain functional parameters in individual human spermatozoa. Such endpoints will enable us to describe more precisely the cascade of events a sperm needs to pass before fertilization can occur. Such new findings will change our concept for sperm function and may provide novel strategies for sperm assessment. In this project we describe various parameters on individual sperm providing insights into the integrity and indications for sperm quality. We consider that techniques such as Multiparametric Flow Cytometry (MFC) coupled to cell sorting and Raman Micro-spectroscopy (RM) offer outstanding diagnostic opportunities. We expect, that such findings change the understanding of the mechanisms rendering spermatozoa fertilization competent. Combination of several endpoints offers the potential to assess sperm quality/function far beyond cytological/microscopic parameters. The new optical technologies waived technical limitations and now enable exploration of individual sperm. We can identify quantitatively subpopulations of sperm with none, one or several defects. For the first time, we can determine simultaneously the relationship between various functional cellular features. Our hypothesis-driven approach has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of sperm function and may lead to novel applications for sperm analysis and sorting.

临床和实验精子分析依赖于光显微镜估计的细胞特征。精子数量、形态和活力目前被确定为主要终点。虽然这些参数提供了睾丸配子产生的有价值的读数，但精子的功能特征，特别是它们的受精能力并没有得到充分的解决。近年来，为了更好地识别精子的功能能力，开发了几种生物化学测试。这样的策略是强制性的，以提高精子分析和精子选择在人类和兽医学。我们的团队通过探索新颖和创新的光学策略在精子分析中的应用，进入了另一条轨道。我们在许多物种中获得了关于精子完整性和功能的许多新见解，并创造了一些新的诊断策略。我们假设，非侵入性光学策略可以应用于获得单个人类精子的功能参数。这样的端点将使我们能够更精确地描述精子在受精前需要经过的一连串事件。这些新发现将改变我们对精子功能的概念，并可能为精子评估提供新的策略。在这个项目中，我们描述了单个精子的各种参数，为精子质量的完整性和适应症提供了见解。我们认为，多参数流式细胞术（MFC）结合细胞分选和拉曼微光谱（RM）等技术提供了出色的诊断机会。我们期望这些发现能够改变人们对精子受精机制的理解。几个终点的结合提供了评估精子质量/功能的潜力，远远超出细胞学/显微镜参数。新的光学技术放弃了技术限制，现在可以探索单个精子。我们可以定量地识别没有缺陷、一种或几种缺陷的精子亚群。第一次，我们可以同时确定各种功能细胞特征之间的关系。我们的假设驱动的方法有可能彻底改变我们对精子功能的理解，并可能导致精子分析和分类的新应用。