Fig. 7

Long-term Eg5 inhibition led to different types of abnormal sperm heads. a HE staining of the sperms in the Control, Monastrol (50 μM), STLC (10 μM) and Dimethylenastron (20 μM). Black arrowheads pointed to the deformities of sperms. Scale bar, 100 μm. b Detailed morphological characteristics of abnormal sperms. Black arrowheads pointed to the deformities of sperms. Scale bar, 50 μm. c The ratios of headless sperm in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 1.90 ± 0.38%; Monastrol, 4.46 ± 1.48%; STLC, 0.95 ± 0.38%; Dimethylenastron, 1.48 ± 0.52%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. d The abnormal ratios of topmost head in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 1.36 ± 0.24%; Monastrol, 7.06 ± 0.71%; STLC, 2.94 ± 0.32%; Dimethylenastron, 1.92 ± 0.64%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. e The abnormal ratios of junction in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 2.71 ± 0.51%; Monastrol, 6.09 ± 1.14%; STLC, 4.44 ± 0.98%; Dimethylenastron, 2.26 ± 0.79%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. f The ratios of formless head in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 1.68 ± 0.36%; Monastrol, 10.91 ± 1.91%; STLC, 1.64 ± 0.45%; Dimethylenastron, 1.06 ± 0.50%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. g The ratios of round head in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 0.83 ± 0.27%; Monastrol, 6.61 ± 1.90%; STLC, 0.57 ± 0.41%; Dimethylenastron, 0.69 ± 0.26%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. h The ratios of specific head in the Control, Monastrol, STLC and Dimethylenastron groups (Control, 0.07 ± 0.07%; Monastrol, 2.72 ± 0.69%; STLC, 0.14 ± 0.14%; Dimethylenastron, 0.00 ± 0.00%). n = 11, 9, 6, 6. Student’s t-test. Error bars, mean ± SEM. ns, p > 0.05; *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001 and ****, p < 0.0001. i Graphical models of the abnormal sperm heads after Eg5 inhibition. The head deformity including headless sperm (a’), abnormal topmost head (b’), abnormal junction(c’), formless head (d’), round head (e’), specific head (f’) were shown