Nucleosome, the fundamental unit of chromatin, is histone octamer composed of dimers of each histone H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Histones are the key epigenetic players and regulate chromatin architecture. During later stages of spermatogenesis, extensive remodeling of chromatin takes place in which somatic histones get replaced by testis-specific histones, which in turn get replaced by transition proteins and finally by protamines. Disturbances that impair this highly orchestrated process may result in loose DNA packing, endangering its integrity. This reflects on sperm morphology and motility, resulting in teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia and consequently infertility. These sperm are unable to reach the oocyte and, if they do, fail to fertilize. Assisted fertilization in the form of IVF or ICSI may help overcome this hindrance; however, the risk of failure at early embryonic developmental stages or preimplantation loss increases dramatically. This review provides an update on our current understanding of the role of sperm chromatin compaction in sperm function and the impact of its failure on male fertility.
CITATION STYLE
Patankar, A., & Parte, P. (2017). Sperm chromatin compaction and male infertility. In Male Infertility: Understanding, Causes and Treatment (pp. 295–315). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4017-7_17
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