Fig. 6

Eg5 inhibition resulted in reduced sperm counts and malformed sperm structures. a HE staining of the caput epididymis in the Control, Monastrol (50 μM), STLC (10 μM) and Dimethylenastron (20 μM) groups. Boxed areas were enlarged to show abnormal cells and sperms, as indicated by white arrowheads. Scale bar, 100 μm and 10 μm (Zoom). b Total number of the sperms from the caput epididymis per circle with a diameter of 7.9 cm in Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 608.80 ± 12.77; Monastrol, 563.60 ± 31.10; STLC, 46.40 ± 3.33; Dimethylenastron, 450.20 ± 17.45). n = 5 per group. c The ratios of sperms with abnormal nucleus in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 1.35 ± 0.15%; Monastrol, 14.57 ± 6.01%; STLC, 3.52 ± 0.62%; Dimethylenastron, 0.00 ± 0.00%). n = 5, 4, 5, 5. d The ratios of blue-violet cells in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 0.73 ± 0.29%; Monastrol, 0.07 ± 0.04%; STLC, 5.28 ± 1.02%; Dimethylenastron, 18.49 ± 3.11%). n = 5 per group. e The ratios of purple-reddish cells in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 0.36 ± 0.06%; Monastrol, 0.35 ± 0.15%; STLC, 0.51 ± 0.22%; Dimethylenastron, 69.02 ± 5.52%). n = 5 per group. Student’s t-test. Error bars, mean ± SEM. ns, p > 0.05; *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001; ****, p < 0.0001. f Graphical models of male meiotic division and the abnormalities of spermatogenesis after Eg5 inhibition. After Eg5 inhibition, the formation of monopolar spindles in meiosis I and meiosis II were shown. Eg5 depletion also led to the increase of aneuploid cells and abnormal sperms