Télomères des spermatozoïdes, infertilité et devenir de la descendance.

Eukaryotic cells contain linear DNA molecules whose ends can potentially be recognized as DNA breaks and induce an apoptosis process. Specific terminal DNA sequences, known as telomeres, act as a protection system against this phenomenon. It has been evidenced that in somatic cells, telomeres tend to decrease in length over time, which has been suggested to be the biological substrate of aging. In order to counter this process, certain cells express an enzyme called telomerase that has the ability to elongate telomeric ends. During gametogenesis, and especially during spermatogenesis, telomeres participate in homologous chromosomes pairing and to their accurate segregation through the formation of a structure called the telomere bouquet. Their length increases over time in men, which could act as a sort of "guarantee" of the transmission of an acceptable telomeric length to the offspring. The precise mechanisms of this transmission, as well as the implication of telomeres on certain idiopathic male-factor infertilities, remain to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]