Distribution of vimentin in abnormal human spermatozoa.

Vimentin was immunocytochemically detected using a monoclonal anti-vimentin antibody and indirect immunogold electron microscopy. In abnormal human spermatozoa, vimentin was visualized at the level of whole acrosome, post-acrosomal region, neck and initial segment of the mid piece. The distribution of vimentin immunoreactivity was related to a spectrum of structural defects such as large cytoplasmic droplets, binucleated spermatozoa and mitochondrial disassembly in the mid piece.