Continuous behavioural 'switching' in human spermatozoa and its regulation by Ca2+-mobilising stimuli.

ABSTRACT: Human sperm show a variety of different behaviours (types of motility) that have different functional roles. Previous reports suggest that sperm may reversibly switch between these behaviours. We have recorded and analysed the behaviour of individual human sperm (180 cells in total), each cell monitored continuously for 3-3.5 min either under control conditions or in the presence of Ca2+-mobilising stimuli. Switching between different behaviours was assessed visually (1 s bins using four behaviour categories), and was verified by fractal dimension analysis of sperm head tracks. In the absence of stimuli, ~90% of cells showed at least one behavioural transition (mean rate under control conditions = 6.4 ± 0.8 transitions.min-1). Type 1 behaviour (progressive, activated-like motility) was mos

SUBMITTER: Achikanu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6736438 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature