Glycolysis and sperm motility: does a spoonful of sugar help the flagellum go round?

Ford, W. C. L.

doi:10.1093/humupd/dmi053

Cited by 236 publications

(202 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…This hypothesis was first discussed in terms of compartmentalisation, namely that ATP produced in the midpiece would take too long to diffuse (or shuttle) along the flagellum, notably in species with longer sperm tails, such as rodents, although this notion is disputed (Ford 2006). There are, however, several lines of evidence that seem to favour glycolysis as the main ATP source for sperm movement.…”

Section: Sperm Metabolism: Not a Linear Storymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondria functionality and sperm quality

Amaral¹,

Lourenço²,

Marques³

et al. 2013

Reproduction

412

332

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Although mitochondria are best known for being the eukaryotic cell powerhouses, these organelles participate in various cellular functions besides ATP production, such as calcium homoeostasis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and steroid hormone biosynthesis. The aim of this review was to discuss the putative roles of mitochondria in mammalian sperm function and how they may relate to sperm quality and fertilisation ability, particularly in humans. Although paternal mitochondria are degraded inside the zygote, sperm mitochondrial functionality seems to be critical for fertilisation. Indeed, changes in mitochondrial integrity/functionality, namely defects in mitochondrial ultrastructure or in the mitochondrial genome, transcriptome or proteome, as well as low mitochondrial membrane potential or altered oxygen consumption, have been correlated with loss of sperm function (particularly with decreased motility). Results from genetically engineered mouse models also confirmed this trend. On the other hand, increasing evidence suggests that mitochondria derived ATP is not crucial for sperm motility and that glycolysis may be the main ATP supplier for this particular aspect of sperm function. However, there are contradictory data in the literature regarding sperm bioenergetics. The relevance of sperm mitochondria may thus be associated with their role in other physiological features, particularly with the production of ROS, which in controlled levels are needed for proper sperm function. Sperm mitochondria may also serve as intracellular Ca 2C stores, although their role in signalling is still unclear.

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Section: Sperm Metabolism: Not a Linear Storymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mitochondria functionality and sperm quality

Amaral¹,

Lourenço²,

Marques³

et al. 2013

Reproduction

412

332

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“…But the question remained: is this the case or all mammalian sperm? In a comprehensive and critical review, Ford (2006) examined this question in detail. Considerable effort, outlined in the review, has been expended over the years on the action of α-chlorhydrin in inducing male infertility.…”

Section: Glycolysis and Motility: Sugar As Friendmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammalian sperm metabolism: oxygen and sugar, friend and foe

Storey¹

2008

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

283

260

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Mammalian spermatozoa expend energy, generated as intracellular ATP, largely on motility. If the sperm cell cannot swim by use of its flagellar motion, it cannot fertilize the egg. Studies of the means by which this energy is generated span a period of six decades. This review gives an overview of these studies, which demonstrate that both mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, for which oxygen is friend, and glycolysis, for which sugar is friend, can provide the energy, independent of one another. In mouse sperm, glycolysis appears to be the dominant pathway; in bull sperm, oxidative phosphorylation is the predominant pathway. In the case of bull sperm, the high activity of the glycolytic pathway would maintain the intracellular pH too low to allow sperm capacitation; here sugar is enemy. The cow's oviduct has very low glucose concentration, thus allowing capacitation to go forward. The choice of the pathway of energy generation in vivo is set by the conditions in the oviduct of the conspecific female. The phospholipids of the sperm plasma membrane have a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids represented in their acyl moieties, rendering them highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation; in this case oxygen is enemy. But the susceptibility of the sperm membrane to lethal damage by lipid peroxidation allows the female oviduct to dispose of sperm that have overstayed their welcome, and so keep in balance sperm access to the egg and sperm removal once this has occurred.

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“…Glycolysis is involved in capacitation by stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation (Urner & Sakkas 2003) and/or in providing the principal piece of the flagellum with ATP particularly for the vigorous whiplash motility (hyperactivity) that produces the thrust to penetrate the zona pellucida (Yanagimachi 1994, Bedford 1998, Bone et al 2000, Williams & Ford 2001. Whether local glycolytic ATP-production is essential for sperm motility or can be substituted by other means has comprehensively been discussed by Ford (2006). Several glycolytic enzymes show unusual properties, suggesting that glycolysis in the principal piece is structurally organized along the fibrous sheath of the flagellum (Visconti et al 1996, Westhoff & Kamp 1997, Bunch et al 1998, Travis et al 1998, Krisfalusi et al 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel pyruvate kinase (PK-S) from boar spermatozoa is localized at the fibrous sheath and the acrosome

Feiden

Stypa²,

Wolfrum³

et al. 2007

Reproduction

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Boar spermatozoa contain a novel pyruvate kinase (PK-S) that is tightly bound at the acrosome of the sperm head and at the fibrous sheath in the principal piece of the flagellum, while the midpiece contains a soluble pyruvate kinase (PK). PK-S could not be solubilized by detergents, but by trypsin with no loss of activity. Purified PK-S as well as PK-S still bound to cell structures and soluble sperm PK have all kinetics similar to those of rabbit muscle PK-M1. The PK-S subunit had a relative molecular mass of 64G 1!10 3 (nZ3), i.e. slightly higher than that of PK-M1, and carried an N-terminal extension (NH 2 -TSEAM-COOH) that is lacking in native PK-M1. Evidence is provided that PK-S is encoded by the PKM gene. Antibodies produced against the N-terminus of purified PK-S (NH 2 -TSEAMPKAHMDAG-COOH) were specific for PK-S as they did not react with somatic PKs or soluble sperm PK, while anti-PK-M1 recognized both sperm PKs. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed anti-PK-S to label the acrosome and the flagellar principal piece, whereas the midpiece containing the mitochondria was labelled only by anti-PK-M1. Immunogold labelling confirmed the localization of PK-S at the acrosome. In the principal piece, both polyclonal anti-PK-M1 and anti-PK-S were found at the fibrous sheath. Our results suggest that PK-S is a major component in the structural organization of glycolysis in boar spermatozoa.Reproduction (2007) 134 81-95

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Glycolysis and sperm motility: does a spoonful of sugar help the flagellum go round?

Cited by 236 publications

References 53 publications

Mitochondria functionality and sperm quality

Mitochondria functionality and sperm quality

Mammalian sperm metabolism: oxygen and sugar, friend and foe

A novel pyruvate kinase (PK-S) from boar spermatozoa is localized at the fibrous sheath and the acrosome

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