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Hernández HO, Montoya F, Hernández-Herrera P, Díaz-Guerrero DS, Olveres J, Bloomfield-Gadêlha H, Darszon A, Escalante-Ramírez B, Corkidi G. Feature-based 3D+t descriptors of hyperactivated human sperm beat patterns. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26645. [PMID: 38444471 PMCID: PMC10912238 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The flagellar movement of the mammalian sperm plays a crucial role in fertilization. In the female reproductive tract, human spermatozoa undergo a process called capacitation which promotes changes in their motility. Only capacitated spermatozoa may be hyperactivated and only those that transition to hyperactivated motility are capable of fertilizing the egg. Hyperactivated motility is characterized by asymmetric flagellar bends of greater amplitude and lower frequency. Historically, clinical fertilization studies have used two-dimensional analysis to classify sperm motility, despite the inherently three-dimensional (3D) nature of sperm motion. Recent research has described several 3D beating features of sperm flagella. However, the 3D motility pattern of hyperactivated spermatozoa has not yet been characterized. One of the main challenges in classifying these patterns in 3D is the lack of a ground-truth reference, as it can be difficult to visually assess differences in flagellar beat patterns. Additionally, it is worth noting that only a relatively small proportion, approximately 10-20% of sperm incubated under capacitating conditions exhibit hyperactivated motility. In this work, we used a multifocal image acquisition system that can acquire, segment, and track sperm flagella in 3D+t. We developed a feature-based vector that describes the spatio-temporal flagellar sperm motility patterns by an envelope of ellipses. The classification results obtained using our 3D feature-based descriptors can serve as potential label for future work involving deep neural networks. By using the classification results as labels, it will be possible to train a deep neural network to automatically classify spermatozoa based on their 3D flagellar beating patterns. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the descriptors by applying them to a dataset of human sperm cells and showing that they can accurately differentiate between non-hyperactivated and hyperactivated 3D motility patterns of the sperm cells. This work contributes to the understanding of 3D flagellar hyperactive motility patterns and provides a framework for research in the fields of human and animal fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haydee O. Hernández
- Posgrado en Ciencia e Ingeniería de la Computación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Fernando Montoya
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Paul Hernández-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Dan S. Díaz-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Jimena Olveres
- Departamento de Procesamiento de Señales, Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hermes Bloomfield-Gadêlha
- Department of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Boris Escalante-Ramírez
- Departamento de Procesamiento de Señales, Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Corkidi
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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Lewandowska E, Węsierski D, Mazur-Milecka M, Liss J, Jezierska A. Ensembling noisy segmentation masks of blurred sperm images. Comput Biol Med 2023; 166:107520. [PMID: 37804777 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm tail morphology and motility have been demonstrated to be important factors in determining sperm quality for in vitro fertilization. However, many existing computer-aided sperm analysis systems leave the sperm tail out of the analysis, as detecting a few tail pixels is challenging. Moreover, some publicly available datasets for classifying morphological defects contain images limited only to the sperm head. This study focuses on the segmentation of full sperm, which consists of the head and tail parts, and appear alone and in groups. METHODS We re-purpose the Feature Pyramid Network to ensemble an input image with multiple masks from state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms using a scale-specific cross-attention module. We normalize homogeneous backgrounds for improved training. The low field depth of microscopes blurs the images, easily confusing human raters in discerning minuscule sperm from large backgrounds. We thus propose evaluation protocols for scoring segmentation models trained on imbalanced data and noisy ground truth. RESULTS The neural ensembling of noisy segmentation masks outperforms all single, state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms in full sperm segmentation. Human raters agree more on the head than tail masks. The algorithms also segment the head better than the tail. CONCLUSIONS The extensive evaluation of state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms shows that full sperm segmentation is challenging. We release the SegSperm dataset of images from Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection procedures to spur further progress on full sperm segmentation with noisy and imbalanced ground truth. The dataset is publicly available at https://doi.org/10.34808/6wm7-1159.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Węsierski
- Cameras and Algorithms Lab, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland; Multimedia Systems Department, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication, and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland
| | - Magdalena Mazur-Milecka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland
| | - Joanna Liss
- Invicta Research and Development Center, Sopot, Poland; Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, University of Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Jezierska
- Cameras and Algorithms Lab, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland; Department of Modelling and Optimization of Dynamical Systems, Systems Research Institute Warsaw, Poland.
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Phuyal S, Suarez SS, Tung CK. Biological benefits of collective swimming of sperm in a viscoelastic fluid. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:961623. [PMID: 36211471 PMCID: PMC9535079 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.961623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Collective swimming is evident in the sperm of several mammalian species. In bull (Bos taurus) sperm, high viscoelasticity of the surrounding fluid induces the sperm to form dynamic clusters. Sperm within the clusters swim closely together and align in the same direction, yet the clusters are dynamic because individual sperm swim into and out of them over time. As the fluid in part of the mammalian female reproductive tract contains mucus and, consequently, is highly viscoelastic, this mechanistic clustering likely happens in vivo. Nevertheless, it has been unclear whether clustering could provide any biological benefit. Here, using a microfluidic in vitro model with viscoelastic fluid, we found that the collective swimming of bull sperm in dynamic clusters provides specific biological benefits. In static viscoelastic fluid, clustering allowed sperm to swim in a more progressive manner. When the fluid was made to flow in the range of 2.43-4.05 1/sec shear rate, clustering enhanced the ability of sperm to swim upstream. We also found that the swimming characteristics of sperm in our viscoelastic fluid could not be fully explained by the hydrodynamic model that has been developed for sperm swimming in a low-viscosity, Newtonian fluid. Overall, we found that clustered sperm swam more oriented with each other in the absence of flow, were able to swim upstream under intermediate flows, and better withstood a strong flow than individual sperm. Our results indicate that the clustering of sperm can be beneficial to sperm migrating against an opposing flow of viscoelastic fluid within the female reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Phuyal
- Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, United States
- Applied Science and Technology PhD Program, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, United States
| | - Susan S. Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Chih-Kuan Tung
- Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, United States
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Gaffney EA, Ishimoto K, Walker BJ. Modelling Motility: The Mathematics of Spermatozoa. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:710825. [PMID: 34354994 PMCID: PMC8329702 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.710825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In one of the first examples of how mechanics can inform axonemal mechanism, Machin's study in the 1950s highlighted that observations of sperm motility cannot be explained by molecular motors in the cell membrane, but would instead require motors distributed along the flagellum. Ever since, mechanics and hydrodynamics have been recognised as important in explaining the dynamics, regulation, and guidance of sperm. More recently, the digitisation of sperm videomicroscopy, coupled with numerous modelling and methodological advances, has been bringing forth a new era of scientific discovery in this field. In this review, we survey these advances before highlighting the opportunities that have been generated for both recent research and the development of further open questions, in terms of the detailed characterisation of the sperm flagellum beat and its mechanics, together with the associated impact on cell behaviour. In particular, diverse examples are explored within this theme, ranging from how collective behaviours emerge from individual cell responses, including how these responses are impacted by the local microenvironment, to the integration of separate advances in the fields of flagellar analysis and flagellar mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn A. Gaffney
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kenta Ishimoto
- Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Benjamin J. Walker
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Tung CK, Suarez SS. Co-Adaptation of Physical Attributes of the Mammalian Female Reproductive Tract and Sperm to Facilitate Fertilization. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061297. [PMID: 34073739 PMCID: PMC8225031 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The functions of the female reproductive tract not only encompass sperm migration, storage, and fertilization, but also support the transport and development of the fertilized egg through to the birth of offspring. Further, because the tract is open to the external environment, it must also provide protection against invasive pathogens. In biophysics, sperm are considered “pusher microswimmers”, because they are propelled by pushing fluid behind them. This type of swimming by motile microorganisms promotes the tendency to swim along walls and upstream in gentle fluid flows. Thus, the architecture of the walls of the female tract, and the gentle flows created by cilia, can guide sperm migration. The viscoelasticity of the fluids in the tract, such as mucus secretions, also promotes the cooperative swimming of sperm that can improve fertilization success; at the same time, the mucus can also impede the invasion of pathogens. This review is focused on how the mammalian female reproductive tract and sperm interact physically to facilitate the movement of sperm to the site of fertilization. Knowledge of female/sperm interactions can not only explain how the female tract can physically guide sperm to the fertilization site, but can also be applied for the improvement of in vitro fertilization devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Kuan Tung
- Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Susan S. Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;
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Hansen JN, Rassmann S, Stüven B, Jurisch-Yaksi N, Wachten D. CiliaQ: a simple, open-source software for automated quantification of ciliary morphology and fluorescence in 2D, 3D, and 4D images. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:18. [PMID: 33683488 PMCID: PMC7940315 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00031-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Cilia are hair-like membrane protrusions that emanate from the surface of most vertebrate cells and are classified into motile and primary cilia. Motile cilia move fluid flow or propel cells, while also fulfill sensory functions. Primary cilia are immotile and act as a cellular antenna, translating environmental cues into cellular responses. Ciliary dysfunction leads to severe diseases, commonly termed ciliopathies. The molecular details underlying ciliopathies and ciliary function are, however, not well understood. Since cilia are small subcellular compartments, imaging-based approaches have been used to study them. However, tools to comprehensively analyze images are lacking. Automatic analysis approaches require commercial software and are limited to 2D analysis and only a few parameters. The widely used manual analysis approaches are time consuming, user-biased, and difficult to compare. Here, we present CiliaQ, a package of open-source, freely available, and easy-to-use ImageJ plugins. CiliaQ allows high-throughput analysis of 2D and 3D, static or time-lapse images from fluorescence microscopy of cilia in cell culture or tissues, and outputs a comprehensive list of parameters for ciliary morphology, length, bending, orientation, and fluorescence intensity, making it broadly applicable. We envision CiliaQ as a resource and platform for reproducible and comprehensive analysis of ciliary function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Niklas Hansen
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Rassmann
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Birthe Stüven
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nathalie Jurisch-Yaksi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, The Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, The Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dagmar Wachten
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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