Getting to and away from the egg, an interplay between several sperm transport mechanisms and a complex oviduct physiology

Abstract

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Microfluidic devices employing chemo‐ and thermotaxis for sperm selection can improve sperm parameters and function in patients with high DNA fragmentation

“…This microfluid device was designed based on the natural sperm selection mechanisms (thermotaxis and chemotaxis) (Giojalas & Guidobaldi, 2020) and it was fabricated in Tarahan labkhand Dental Laboratory, Tehran, Iran. The 3D geometry of the microfluid device was designed by ‘CATIA V5‐6R2017’ software.…”

“…The natural mechanism is critical for determining which spermatozoa is most suited for fertilization. According to research, chemotaxis, thermotaxis and rheotaxis are important natural mechanisms that spermatozoa use to identify the oocyte (Giojalas & Guidobaldi, 2020). Chemotaxis is cell movement in the direction of a concentration gradient.…”

Sperm‐oviduct interactions: Key factors for sperm survival and maintenance of sperm fertilizing capacity

“…Although these two factors facilitate the migration of sperm through the cervix, around 70%–85 % of sperm (dependent on the species and the individual) stick to the mucus and consequently are eliminated from the fertilization process. A further reduction of sperm occurs through a considerable flowback of sperm in the human vagina following coitus, which may account for a loss of 35% up to 100% of the sperm 23 . The remaining spermatozoa, which have been able to pass the cervix, enter the uterine cavity and have to pass the narrow uterotubal junction, 24 which is the second major barrier for the sperm on their way to the oviduct.…”

Conservation Biology and Reproduction in a Time of Developmental Plasticity

“…Sperm entry into the oviductal isthmus from the utero-tubal junction is not only dependent on progressive motility, but is critically dependent on the exact molecular nature of the proteins expressed at the sperm surface, especially the A-disintegrin and metalloprotease group, widely known as ADAM proteins [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Moreover, the epithelial cell products typically prevent sperm motility and capacitation until they register that ovulation is under way [ 66 ], whereupon motility and directionality are influenced by chemotaxis [ 67 , 68 ] and thermotaxis [ 69 ]. Furthermore, components of oviductal fluid cause significant hardening of the zona pellucida [ 70 , 71 , 72 ], the proteinaceous coat the surrounds the oocyte, and reduce polyspermic fertilization.…”