Topic
Sperm motility
About: Sperm motility is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 13874 publications have been published within this topic receiving 416587 citations. The topic is also known as: sperm movement & GO:0097722.
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TL;DR: Spermatozoa may be exposed to abnormal levels of TNF-alpha in the male reproductive tract or during their passage into the female reproductive tract (in cases of endometriosis), which can result in significant loss of their functional and genomic integrity.
102 citations
TL;DR: Attention is focused on protein phosphatases, in the context of current literature and more recent studies, as a growing area of interest in relation to the role that protein phosphorylation plays in the regulation of motility of sperm and other axoneme-containing cells.
Abstract: Lesions in the normal expression of sperm motility are associated with certain types of male infertility. Therefore, an understanding of the signal transduction pathways regulating sperm motility will be an important part of our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these types of male infertility. In this connection, the regulation of sperm fiagellar motility by second messengers is a rapidly expanding area of research in cell and reproductive biology. While abundant information can be found concerning protein kinases and phosphoproteins in relation to sperm motility, relatively little attention has been paid to the potential role for protein phosphatases in this process. This review will focus attention on protein phosphatases, in the context of current literature and more recent studies, as a growing area of interest in relation to the role that protein phosphorylation plays in the regulation of motility of sperm and other axoneme-containing cells.
102 citations
TL;DR: It may be concluded that Zn supplementation either in the inorganic or organic form in the diet of crossbred bulls improved the qualitative and quantitative attributes of semen; however, the number of sperm per ejaculate, mass motility and semen fertility test like bovine cervical mucus penetration was significantly higher in bulls given Zn in an organic form (Zn propionate) as compared to an inorganic form ( Zn sulfate).
Abstract: An experiment was conducted on 16 crossbred bulls (about 2 years of age, 316.2+/-0.77 kg average body weight), divided into groups I, II, III and IV to study the effect of different levels of Zn supplementation from inorganic and organic sources on semen quality. The animals in the first 3 groups were supplemented with 0, 35 and 70 ppm Zn from Zn sulfate, respectively and the animals in-group IV were supplemented with 35 ppm Zn as Zn propionate. Semen collection and evaluation was done in the first month (to assess semen quality at the start of the experiment) and 7th, 8th and 9th month of experimental feeding to evaluate the effect of supplemental Zn on semen attributes. We gave 6 months for Zn feeding, so that 3 sperm cycles of spermatogenesis had passed and the collected semen reflected the complete effect of Zn supplementation. Six ejaculates from each bull were collected and evaluated for semen quantitative (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and sperm number per ejaculate) and qualitative characteristics (semen pH, mass motility, individual motility, sperm livability percent and abnormal sperm percent, percent intact acrosome, bovine cervical mucus penetration test, hypo-osmotic sperm swelling test) and activity of seminal plasma enzymes i.e., alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, GOT and GPT. Testosterone level in the blood serum of crossbred bulls was also estimated. Mean values of semen quantitative and qualitative characteristics at the start of the experiment were statistically non significant (P > 0.05) in all the crossbred cattle bulls, however, there were statistically significant differences among the bulls of different groups after 6 months of zinc supplementation. Mean ejaculate volume (mL) was 2.37, 4.70, 5.86 and 6.38, respectively in groups I to IV, indicating a statistically significant (P < 0.05) higher semen volume in Zn-supplemented groups as compared to the control group of bulls. Similarly, sperm concentration (million.mL(-1)), live sperm (%) and motility (%) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Zn-supplemented groups as compared to the control group. The results of BCMPT and HOSST revealed a significant improvement in sperm functional ability in all the groups supplemented with Zn as compared to the control group. The activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase in seminal plasma was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the Zn-supplemented groups, whereas GOT and GPT activities in seminal plasma were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the Zn propionate supplemented group as compared to the control group. Testosterone concentration (ng.mL(-1)) in blood serum was significantly higher in animals of groups III and IV, as compared to control group. It may be concluded that Zn supplementation either in the inorganic or organic form in the diet of crossbred bulls improved the qualitative and quantitative attributes of semen; however, the number of sperm per ejaculate, mass motility and semen fertility test like bovine cervical mucus penetration was significantly higher in bulls given Zn in an organic form (Zn propionate) as compared to an inorganic form (Zn sulfate).
102 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the boar-specific and sperm subpopulation-specific interactions between sperm motility activation and suppression responses are likely to result in sperm selection before the spermatozoa meet the oocytes.
Abstract: When spermatozoa from two or more boars are mixed and females inseminated, the resulting litters are often skewed in favour of one male but there is currently no satisfactory physiological explanation for this effect. However, to reach the oocytes, the spermatozoa must enter the oviduct where they are exposed to factors that modulate their activity. They either become sequestered within the oviductal sperm reservoir or bypass the reservoir and proceed towards the oocytes. The oviduct may therefore hold the key to mammalian sperm selection, thereby explaining why laboratory tests of sperm function, performed on whole ejaculates, are unable to account for the boar-specific skewing effects. We have previously shown that boar sperm motility is highly stimulated by bicarbonate, a naturally abundant component of oviductal fluid. Using motility-based sperm subpopulation analysis, we show here that the relative sizes of bicarbonate-responsive and unresponsive sperm subpopulations vary between individual boars. Proteins derived from oviduct epithelial plasma membranes suppress the activation response and modify sperm movement trajectories in a subpopulation-specific and dose-dependent manner. The suppression response varies between boars and some spermatozoa remain unsuppressed in the presence of oviductal proteins. When boars are ranked according to their susceptibility to bicarbonate-induced stimulation, rankings differ depending upon the presence or absence of oviductal proteins. The suppression response is not caused by inhibition of bicarbonate uptake; on the contrary this is enhanced by oviductal proteins. We suggest that the boar-specific and sperm subpopulation-specific interactions between sperm motility activation and suppression responses are likely to result in sperm selection before the spermatozoa meet the oocytes.
102 citations
TL;DR: In ovarian fluid, sperm longevity was negatively correlated with variation in [Ca(2+)] and [Mg(2+)], while percent motility increased with increasing [M g(2 +)], which provides a possible chemical basis for cryptic female mate choice whereby female ovarian fluid differentially influences the behaviour of sperm from different males, and thus their fertilization success.
Abstract: The relationships between the compositions of ovarian, seminal fluids and sperm function are not well known in teleostean fish species. The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of the major inorganic ions (Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Mg, Cl − ), osmolality, and pH of ovarian and seminal fluid of sexually mature chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), and to determine if the composition of these fluids influences sperm motility traits (swimming speed, duration of forward mobility, swimming path trajectory, and percent motility). Cation concentrations and osmolality were significantly different in the two fluids. The ionic composition of ovarian fluid differed among individual females, and also among samples collected at different times through the spawning season. Carbonate and bicarbonate were the principal buffer ions in ovarian fluid, and its viscosity was considerably greater than that of water and was shear-dependent. The duration of forward motility (longevity) of spermatozoa, swimming speed, percent motility, and path trajectory were measured using milt from 10 males activated in the ovarian fluid from 7 females whose ion concentrations were known. No significant correlations were observed between the composition of the seminal fluid and sperm traits. However, in ovarian fluid, sperm longevity was negatively correlated with variation in [Ca 2+ ] and [Mg 2+ ], while percent motility increased with increasing [Mg 2+ ]. These observations provide a possible chemical basis for cryptic female mate choice whereby female ovarian fluid differentially influences the behaviour of sperm from different males, and thus their fertilization success.
102 citations