Relation of Sperm Morphology to Genotypically Controlled Variations in Fertility

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Abstract
A new type of incomplete sterility resulting from the interaction of two mutations (t3 and t0, t3 and t1) at the "T" locus of Chromosome EX in the male house mouse was studied cytologically. Abnormal sperms are frequent in which only the nucleus and acrosome are affected, the posterior extremity being structurally normal. There are significant differences in percentages of abnormal sperms between controls, quasi-sterile, and completely sterile males, although because of overlapping variability, per cent of abnormal sperm does not distinguish individual sterile animals from quasi-steriles. The onset of acrosomal abnormality is early in spermiogenesis, while the nuclear abnormality begins at about mid-spermatid stage. Staining of acrosome with periodic acid Schiff technique reveals abnormalities not usually observed with classical methods.