Globozoospermia is a rare and severe form of monomorphic teratozoospermia. This means that the spermatozoa show the same abnormality, and over 85% of spermatozoa in sperm have this abnormality. Globozoospermia is responsible for less than 0.1% of male infertility. It is characterised by round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes, an abnormal nuclear membrane and midpiece defects. Affected males therefore suffer from either reduced fertility or infertility. Studies suggest that globozoospermia can be either total (100% round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes) or partial (20-60% round acrosomeless spermatozoa with normal sperm also identified in the sperm count), however it is unclear whether these two forms are variations on the same syndrome, or actually different syndromes.Infertility in this condition results from the sperm heads missing their acrosome. These sperm, therefore, have a characteristic round or spherically shaped head. Given the absence of the acrosome, these sperm are unable to penetrate the oocyte and are unable to achieve fertilization through conventional means; however, these sperm are able to fertilize the egg through in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which is the treatment of choice for these patients.Studies have suggested mutations or deletions in three genes are responsible for this condition: SPATA16, PICK1 and DPY19L2. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) has previously been used to assist reproduction in globozoospermic patients, however it has not been particularly effective in all patients, due to low fertilisation rates. Types of globozoospermia
There are two types of globozoospermia:

Type 1 globozoospermia exhibits a complete lack of acrosome and acrosomal enzymes and spherical arrangement of the chromatin.
The authority performed the service about six times a year.The Maryland Transportation Authority previously offered a similar service for crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but that role is now filled by private companies.The Mackinac Bridge Authority, which oversees the Mackinac Bridge connecting Michigans Upper and Lower peninsulas, will drive needy gephyrophobiacs cars across the bridge for a nominal fee. Some one thousand drivers take advantage of this program annually. Leslie Ann Pluhar had her Yugo blown off the bridge in 1989. Later investigation concluded she had stopped her car over the open steel grating on the bridges span and that a gust of wind blowing through the grating pushed her vehicle off the bridge, but this assertion is not supported by recorded wind speed measurements taken on and around the bridge at the time of the accident. In media
Gephyrophobia is the main plot in "The Bridge" episode of The Middle. The character Brick is plagued by the phobia. In 1965s A Charlie Brown Christmas, Lucy references gephyrophobia (albeit with a slight mispronunciation) when attempting to diagnose Charlie Browns problems at her psychiatric help stand. See also
Galloping Gertie
List of bridge disasters
List of structural failures and collapses
List of phobias


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