Mammalian Sperm Motility: Observation and Theory

Gaffney, E.A.; Gadêlha, H.; Smith, D.J.; Blake, J.R.; Kirkman-Brown, J.C.

Type

Article

Authors

Gaffney, E.A.
Gadêlha, H.
Smith, D.J.
Blake, J.R.
Kirkman-Brown, J.C.

KAUST Grant Number

KUK-C1-013-04

Date

2011-01-21

Permanent link to this record

http://hdl.handle.net/10754/598754

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Abstract

Mammalian spermatozoa motility is a subject of growing importance because of rising human infertility and the possibility of improving animal breeding. We highlight opportunities for fluid and continuum dynamics to provide novel insights concerning the mechanics of these specialized cells, especially during their remarkable journey to the egg. The biological structure of the motile sperm appendage, the flagellum, is described and placed in the context of the mechanics underlying the migration of mammalian sperm through the numerous environments of the female reproductive tract. This process demands certain specific changes to flagellar movement and motility for which further mechanical insight would be valuable, although this requires improved modeling capabilities, particularly to increase our understanding of sperm progression in vivo. We summarize current theoretical studies, highlighting the synergistic combination of imaging and theory in exploring sperm motility, and discuss the challenges for future observational and theoretical studies in understanding the underlying mechanics. © 2011 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.

Citation

Gaffney EA, Gadêlha H, Smith DJ, Blake JR, Kirkman-Brown JC (2011) Mammalian Sperm Motility: Observation and Theory. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 43: 501–528. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-121108-145442.

Sponsors

EAG: This publication is based on work supported in part by Award KUK-C1-013-04, made byKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). H.G. acknowledges the CAPESFoundation for sponsorship under contract grant BEX-4676/06-8. D.J.S. acknowledges the MRCfor support under Special Training Fellowship G0600178; J.C.K.-B. and D.J.S. acknowledgesupport from Birmingham Science City, and previous support from the Wellcome Trust. Theauthors thank Dr. Nik Kapur of the University of Leeds for assistance with rheology and theReproductive Biology and Genetics Group, University of Birmingham, for valuable comments.