U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Globozoospermia(SPGF6)

MedGen UID:
96048
Concept ID:
C0403825
Finding
Synonyms: ACROSOME MALFORMATION OF SPERMATOZOA; ROUND-HEADED SPERMATOZOA; Spermatogenic failure 6; SPGF6
SNOMED CT: Globozoospermia (236818008)
 
Gene (location): SPATA16 (3q26.31)
 
HPO: HP:0012205
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0007060
OMIM®: 102530

Definition

Spermatogenic failure-6 (SPGF6) is a form of male infertility with globozoospermia. The acrosome is a unique structure of the mature spermatozoon, which plays an important role at the site of sperm-zonapellucida binding during the fertilization process. Globozoospermia (also called round-headed spermatozoa) is a human infertility syndrome caused by spermatogenesis defects (Lalonde et al., 1988, Singh, 1992). The most prominent feature of globozoospermia is the malformation of the acrosome and, in the most severe cases, the acrosome is totally absent. Globozoospermia is also characterized by abnormal nuclear shape as well as abnormal arrangement of the mitochondria of the spermatozoon (Battaglia et al., 1997). For a discussion of phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150). [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Globozoospermia is a condition that affects only males. It is characterized by abnormal sperm and leads to an inability to father biological children (infertility).

Normal sperm cells have an oval-shaped head with a cap-like covering called the acrosome. The acrosome contains enzymes that break down the outer membrane of an egg cell, allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg. The sperm cells of males with globozoospermia, however, have a round head and no acrosome. The abnormal sperm are unable to fertilize an egg cell, leading to infertility.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/globozoospermia

Clinical features

From HPO
Male infertility
MedGen UID:
5796
Concept ID:
C0021364
Disease or Syndrome
The inability of the male to effect fertilization of an ovum after a specified period of unprotected intercourse. Male sterility is permanent infertility.
Globozoospermia
MedGen UID:
96048
Concept ID:
C0403825
Finding
Spermatogenic failure-6 (SPGF6) is a form of male infertility with globozoospermia. The acrosome is a unique structure of the mature spermatozoon, which plays an important role at the site of sperm-zonapellucida binding during the fertilization process. Globozoospermia (also called round-headed spermatozoa) is a human infertility syndrome caused by spermatogenesis defects (Lalonde et al., 1988, Singh, 1992). The most prominent feature of globozoospermia is the malformation of the acrosome and, in the most severe cases, the acrosome is totally absent. Globozoospermia is also characterized by abnormal nuclear shape as well as abnormal arrangement of the mitochondria of the spermatozoon (Battaglia et al., 1997). For a discussion of phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Decreased acrosin in sperm head
MedGen UID:
1393000
Concept ID:
C4476995
Finding
A reduced amount of the enzyme acrosin in the sperm head acrosome. The acrosome is an organelle in the anterior half of the head of spermatozoa, and acrosin is a protease that contributes to the digestation of the zona pellucida in the fertilization process.

Conditions with this feature

Globozoospermia
MedGen UID:
96048
Concept ID:
C0403825
Finding
Spermatogenic failure-6 (SPGF6) is a form of male infertility with globozoospermia. The acrosome is a unique structure of the mature spermatozoon, which plays an important role at the site of sperm-zonapellucida binding during the fertilization process. Globozoospermia (also called round-headed spermatozoa) is a human infertility syndrome caused by spermatogenesis defects (Lalonde et al., 1988, Singh, 1992). The most prominent feature of globozoospermia is the malformation of the acrosome and, in the most severe cases, the acrosome is totally absent. Globozoospermia is also characterized by abnormal nuclear shape as well as abnormal arrangement of the mitochondria of the spermatozoon (Battaglia et al., 1997). For a discussion of phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 9
MedGen UID:
462757
Concept ID:
C3151407
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-9 (SPGF9) is associated with globozoospermia, a rare phenotype of primary male infertility characterized by the production of a majority of round-headed spermatozoa without an acrosome (summary by Harbuz et al., 2011). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 66
MedGen UID:
1806298
Concept ID:
C5676945
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-66 (SPGF66) is characterized by male infertility due to all sperm being round-headed (globozoospermia) and lacking the acrosome (Oud et al., 2020). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 67
MedGen UID:
1804099
Concept ID:
C5676947
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-67 (SPGF67) is characterized by male infertility due to sperm being round-headed (globozoospermia) and lacking the acrosome (Oud et al., 2020). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 68
MedGen UID:
1812032
Concept ID:
C5676949
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-68 (SPGF68) is characterized by male infertility due to sperm being round-headed (globozoospermia) and lacking the acrosome (Oud et al., 2020). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 69
MedGen UID:
1811285
Concept ID:
C5676960
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-69 (SPGF69) is characterized by male infertility due to sperm being round-headed (globozoospermia) and lacking the acrosome (Oud et al., 2020). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure, X-linked, 7
MedGen UID:
1840203
Concept ID:
C5829567
Disease or Syndrome
X-linked spermatogenic failure-7 (SPGFX7) is characterized by male infertility due to significantly reduced sperm concentration and progressive motility, with abnormalities of the head and flagella. Patient sperm show insufficient individualization, excessive residual cytoplasm, and defects in acrosome development (Zhang et al., 2023). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 85
MedGen UID:
1849976
Concept ID:
C5882685
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-85 (SPGF85) is characterized by male infertility due to globozoospermia and reduced progressive motility (Chen et al., 2021). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).
Spermatogenic failure 91
MedGen UID:
1862682
Concept ID:
C5935623
Disease or Syndrome
Spermatogenic failure-91 (SPGF91) is characterized by male infertility due to teratozoospermia. Patient sperm show defects of the head, including a misshapen rounded head and detachment of the acrosome, and the sperm fail to attach to the zona pellucida of the egg. Pregnancy can be achieved using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (Oud et al., 2020; Fan et al., 2022). For a general phenotypic description and discussion of genetic heterogeneity of spermatogenic failure, see SPGF1 (258150).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Heindryckx B, Van der Elst J, De Sutter P, Dhont M
Hum Reprod 2005 Aug;20(8):2237-41. Epub 2005 Apr 14 doi: 10.1093/humrep/dei029. PMID: 15831504
Check JH, Kozak J, Katsoff D
Arch Androl 1993 Mar-Apr;30(2):125-8. doi: 10.3109/01485019308987745. PMID: 8470942

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Chansel-Debordeaux L, Dandieu S, Bechoua S, Jimenez C
Andrology 2015 Nov;3(6):1022-34. Epub 2015 Oct 7 doi: 10.1111/andr.12081. PMID: 26445006
Doroftei B, Zlei M, Simionescu G, Maftei R, Cumpata S, Emerson G
Reprod Health 2015 May 3;12:38. doi: 10.1186/s12978-015-0031-x. PMID: 25935518Free PMC Article
Coutton C, Escoffier J, Martinez G, Arnoult C, Ray PF
Hum Reprod Update 2015 Jul-Aug;21(4):455-85. Epub 2015 Apr 17 doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmv020. PMID: 25888788
Tejera A, Mollá M, Muriel L, Remohí J, Pellicer A, De Pablo JL
Fertil Steril 2008 Oct;90(4):1202.e1-5. Epub 2008 Mar 21 doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.11.056. PMID: 18359025

Diagnosis

Wei Y, Wang J, Qu R, Zhang W, Tan Y, Sha Y, Li L, Yin T
Hum Reprod Update 2024 Jan 3;30(1):48-80. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmad026. PMID: 37758324
Bhattarai L , Gautam B , Raut BB , Chettri S
Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 2023 Jan-Mar;21(81):98-99. PMID: 37800435
Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Gatimel N, Moreau J, Parinaud J, Léandri RD
Andrology 2017 Sep;5(5):845-862. Epub 2017 Jul 10 doi: 10.1111/andr.12389. PMID: 28692759
Ray PF, Toure A, Metzler-Guillemain C, Mitchell MJ, Arnoult C, Coutton C
Clin Genet 2017 Feb;91(2):217-232. Epub 2016 Dec 9 doi: 10.1111/cge.12905. PMID: 27779748

Therapy

Chen P, Saiyin H, Shi R, Liu B, Han X, Gao Y, Ye X, Zhang X, Sun Y
Hum Reprod 2021 Aug 18;36(9):2587-2596. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deab144. PMID: 34172998
Xi H, Fu Y, Liu C, Lu X, Sui L, Chen Y, Zhao J
Gynecol Endocrinol 2020 Nov;36(11):1035-1037. Epub 2020 Apr 3 doi: 10.1080/09513590.2020.1737667. PMID: 32241192
Mateizel I, Verheyen G, Van de Velde H, Tournaye H, Belva F
J Assist Reprod Genet 2018 Jun;35(6):1005-1010. Epub 2018 Feb 1 doi: 10.1007/s10815-018-1124-6. PMID: 29392515Free PMC Article
Li X, Mao Z, Wu M, Xia J
Sci Rep 2013 Oct 8;3:2842. doi: 10.1038/srep02842. PMID: 24100262Free PMC Article
Bourne H, Richings N, Harari O, Watkins W, Speirs AL, Johnston WI, Baker HW
Reprod Fertil Dev 1995;7(2):237-45. doi: 10.1071/rd9950237. PMID: 7480842

Prognosis

Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Houston BJ, Oud MS, Aguirre DM, Merriner DJ, O'Connor AE, Okutman O, Viville S, Burke R, Veltman JA, O'Bryan MK
G3 (Bethesda) 2020 Dec 3;10(12):4449-4457. doi: 10.1534/g3.120.401714. PMID: 33055224Free PMC Article
Chemes HE
Anim Reprod Sci 2018 Jul;194:41-56. Epub 2018 Apr 20 doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.04.074. PMID: 29753534
Coutton C, Escoffier J, Martinez G, Arnoult C, Ray PF
Hum Reprod Update 2015 Jul-Aug;21(4):455-85. Epub 2015 Apr 17 doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmv020. PMID: 25888788
Holland A, Ohlendieck K
Proteomics 2015 Feb;15(4):632-48. Epub 2014 Aug 26 doi: 10.1002/pmic.201400032. PMID: 24909132

Clinical prediction guides

Bhattarai L , Gautam B , Raut BB , Chettri S
Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 2023 Jan-Mar;21(81):98-99. PMID: 37800435
Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Tanhaei S, Abdali-Mashhadi S, Tavalaee M, Javadian-Elyaderani S, Ghaedi K, Seifati SM, Nasr-Esfahani MH
Urol J 2019 Oct 21;16(5):488-494. doi: 10.22037/uj.v0i0.4621. PMID: 30882161
Dam AH, Feenstra I, Westphal JR, Ramos L, van Golde RJ, Kremer JA
Hum Reprod Update 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):63-75. Epub 2006 Sep 28 doi: 10.1093/humupd/dml047. PMID: 17008355
Terada Y
Hum Cell 2004 Dec;17(4):181-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-0774.2004.tb00041.x. PMID: 16035502

Recent systematic reviews

Mehdinejadiani S, Goudarzi N, Masjedi F, Govahi A, Mirani M, Mehdinejadiani K, Azad N
Reprod Sci 2024 Oct;31(10):2916-2942. Epub 2024 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s43032-024-01671-z. PMID: 39168919
Rubino P, Viganò P, Luddi A, Piomboni P
Hum Reprod Update 2016 Mar-Apr;22(2):194-227. Epub 2015 Nov 18 doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmv050. PMID: 26586241

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...