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Table 1 Complete CD and ERC comparison

From: An investigation of excess residual cytoplasm in human spermatozoa and its distinction from the cytoplasmic droplet

 

Cytoplasmic droplet

Excess residual cytoplasm

Location

Proximal part (neck) of midpiece

Along midpiece

Structure

Cytoplasm smaller than 1/3 sperm head size, 2 μm in diameter

Cytoplasm larger than 1/3 to 1/2 sperm head size

Caused by

Cytoplasmic extrusion via Sertoli cell phagocytosis

Spermiogenesis arrest and interruption of cytoplasmic extrusion

Function/Consequences

Physiological – Regulatory volume decrease and ROS production

Physiological – Elevated levels of cytoplasm enzymes; Pathological – Incomplete maturation (“dysmature”), oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis

Identification/Testing Methods

Air-drying (does not survive) and binary image analysis via NADH/NBT staining

Air-drying (survives), binary image analysis via NADH/NBT staining, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, ROS markers, aniline blue chromatin staining, and Sptrx screening

  1. Differences between cytoplasmic droplets (CDs) and excess residual cytoplasm (ERC) with regards to location, structure, cause, function/consequences, and identification/testing methods, and hallmarks.
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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

ISSN: 1477-7827

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