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Zhang K, Klingner A, Le Gars Y, Misra S, Magdanz V, Khalil ISM. Locomotion of bovine spermatozoa during the transition from individual cells to bundles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211911120. [PMID: 36638212 PMCID: PMC9934168 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211911120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Various locomotion strategies employed by microorganisms are observed in complex biological environments. Spermatozoa assemble into bundles to improve their swimming efficiency compared to individual cells. However, the dynamic mechanisms for the formation of sperm bundles have not been fully characterized. In this study, we numerically and experimentally investigate the locomotion of spermatozoa during the transition from individual cells to bundles of two cells. Three consecutive dynamic behaviors are found across the course of the transition: hydrodynamic attraction/repulsion, alignment, and synchronization. The hydrodynamic attraction/repulsion depends on the relative orientation and distance between spermatozoa as well as their flagellar wave patterns and phase shift. Once the heads are attached, we find a stable equilibrium of the rotational hydrodynamics resulting in the alignment of the heads. The synchronization results from the combined influence of hydrodynamic and mechanical cell-to-cell interactions. Additionally, we find that the flagellar beat is regulated by the interactions during the bundle formation, whereby spermatozoa can synchronize their beats to enhance their swimming velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Zhang
- Surgical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen9713 AV, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anke Klingner
- Department of Physics, The German University in Cairo11835, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yohan Le Gars
- Department of Cognitive Robotics, Delft University of Technology2628 CD, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Sarthak Misra
- Surgical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen9713 AV, Groningen, Netherlands
- Surgical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente7522 NB, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Veronika Magdanz
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of WaterlooN2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri-Reixac 10-12, 08028Barcelona, Spain
| | - Islam S. M. Khalil
- Surgical Robotics Laboratory, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente7522 NB, Enschede, Netherlands
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2
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Vrech DE, Peretti AV, Prendini L, Mattoni CI. Bundles of Sperm: Structural Diversity in Scorpion Sperm Packages Illuminates Evolution of Insemination in an Ancient Lineage. AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2022. [DOI: 10.1206/3993.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David E. Vrech
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET – FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alfredo V. Peretti
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET – FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lorenzo Prendini
- Arachnology Lab and Scorpion Systematics Research Group, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York
| | - Camilo I. Mattoni
- Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET – FCEFyN, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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3
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Morcillo i Soler P, Hidalgo C, Fekete Z, Zalanyi L, Khalil ISM, Yeste M, Magdanz V. Bundle formation of sperm: Influence of environmental factors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:957684. [PMID: 36299459 PMCID: PMC9591104 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.957684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperative behaviour of sperm is one of the mechanisms that plays a role in sperm competition. It has been observed in several species that spermatozoa interact with each other to form agglomerates or bundles. In this study, we investigate the effect of physical and biochemical factors that will most likely promote bundle formation in bull sperm. These factors include fluid viscosity, swim-up process, post-thaw incubation time and media additives which promote capacitation. While viscosity does not seem to influence the degree of sperm bundling, swim-up, post-thaw migration time and suppressed capacitation increase the occurrence of sperm bundles. This leads to the conclusion that sperm bundling is a result of hydrodynamic and adhesive interactions between the cells which occurs frequently during prolonged incubation times.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Hidalgo
- Centro de Biotecnológia Animal SERIDA-DEVA-GIJON, Gijón, Spain
| | - Zoltán Fekete
- ONGO Vettech Ltd., Martonvásár, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology & Bionics, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Zalanyi
- ONGO Vettech Ltd., Martonvásár, Hungary
- Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Islam S. M. Khalil
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Marc Yeste
- University of Girona, Girona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Veronika Magdanz
- Smart Nanobiodevices Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Veronika Magdanz,
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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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Nixon B, Cafe SL, Eamens AL, De Iuliis GN, Bromfield EG, Martin JH, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Dun MD. Molecular insights into the divergence and diversity of post-testicular maturation strategies. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 517:110955. [PMID: 32783903 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Competition to achieve paternity has coerced the development of a multitude of male reproductive strategies. In one of the most well-studied examples, the spermatozoa of all mammalian species must undergo a series of physiological changes as they transit the male (epididymal maturation) and female (capacitation) reproductive tracts prior to realizing their potential to fertilize an ovum. However, the origin and adaptive advantage afforded by these intricate processes of post-testicular sperm maturation remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we review literature pertaining to the nature and the physiological role of epididymal maturation and subsequent capacitation in comparative vertebrate taxa including representative species from the avian, reptilian, and mammalian lineages. Such insights are discussed in terms of the framework they provide for helping to understand the evolutionary significance of post-testicular sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
| | - Shenae L Cafe
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew L Eamens
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Geoffry N De Iuliis
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jacinta H Martin
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - David A Skerrett-Byrne
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew D Dun
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research Innovation and Translation, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lambton, NSW, 2305, Australia
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Schoeller SF, Holt WV, Keaveny EE. Collective dynamics of sperm cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190384. [PMID: 32713305 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
While only a single sperm may fertilize the egg, getting to the egg can be facilitated, and possibly enhanced, by sperm group dynamics. Examples range from the trains formed by wood mouse sperm to the bundles exhibited by echidna sperm. In addition, observations of wave-like patterns exhibited by ram semen are used to score prospective sample fertility for artificial insemination in agriculture. In this review, we discuss these experimental observations of collective dynamics, as well as describe recent mechanistic models that link the motion of individual sperm cells and their flagella to observed collective dynamics. Establishing this link in models involves negotiating the disparate time- and length scales involved, typically separated by a factor of 1000, to capture the dynamics at the greatest length scales affected by mechanisms at the shortest time scales. Finally, we provide some outlook on the subject, in particular, the open questions regarding how collective dynamics impacts fertility. This article is part of the theme issue 'Multi-scale analysis and modelling of collective migration in biological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon F Schoeller
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - William V Holt
- Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW14RY, UK
| | - Eric E Keaveny
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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Gotoh A, Furukawa K. Journey of sperms from production by males to storage by queens in Crematogaster osakensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 105:95-101. [PMID: 29373812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ants show a unique reproductive system among insects. Males finish sperm production, and their testes degenerate at a young stage. After copulation, spermatozoa are transferred into the queens, who store the received sperm cells throughout their long lifespan without additional mating. In the present study, we investigated the reproductive biology of Crematogaster osakensis from male sexual maturation to sperm transfer, and sperm storage in queens. The sperm production was completed by eclosion and all produced spermatozoa had migrated to the seminal vesicle and the testes shrank until 10 days after eclosion. Sperm were not connected with bundles in mature males. The sperm cells were immobilized in the seminal vesicle. The sperm cells with the spermatophore were ejaculated into the bursa copulatrix and remained immotile during transfer from the bursa copulatrix to the spermathecal reservoir via the spermathecal duct. These findings provide significant insights into the importance of sperm immobilization, which prevents sperm damage and/or production of reactive oxygen species rather than swimming faster competed with rival male spermatozoa to reach into the sperm storage site, even in the polyandrous species, C. osakensis. Immobilization was also observed in the spermathecal reservoir 5 years after mating. This observation suggests that sperm immobilization is one of the important factors for successful long-term sperm storage and maintaining low levels of sperm metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Gotoh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8501, Japan.
| | - Koudai Furukawa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Institute for Integrative Neurobiology, Konan University, 8-9-1 Okamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
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Gottardo M, Dallai R, Mercati D, Hörnschemeyer T, Beutel RG. The evolution of insect sperm − an unusual character system in a megadiverse group. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gottardo
- Department of Life Sciences; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - Romano Dallai
- Department of Life Sciences; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena Italy
| | - David Mercati
- Department of Life Sciences; Università degli Studi di Siena; Siena Italy
| | | | - Rolf Georg Beutel
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum; Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena; Jena Germany
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9
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Abstract
In species where females mate promiscuously, competition between ejaculates from different males to fertilize the ova is an important selective force shaping many aspects of male reproductive traits, such as sperm number, sperm length and sperm-sperm interactions. In eusocial Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants), males die shortly after mating and their reproductive success is ultimately limited by the amount of sperm stored in the queen's spermatheca. Multiple mating by queens is expected to impose intense selective pressure on males to optimize the transfer of sperm to the storage organ. Here, we report a remarkable case of cooperation between spermatozoa in the desert ant Cataglyphis savignyi. Males ejaculate bundles of 50-100 spermatozoa. Sperm bundles swim on average 51% faster than solitary sperm cells. Team swimming is expected to increase the amount of sperm stored in the queen spermatheca and, ultimately, enhance male posthumous fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Pearcy
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Noémie Delescaille
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Pascale Lybaert
- Hormonologie Expérimentale, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels 1070, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels 1050, Belgium
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