Mammalian sperm cells must respond to cues originating from along the female
reproductive tract and from the layers of the egg in order to complete their fertilization …

A proper dialogue between spermatozoa and the egg is essential for conception of a new
individual in sexually reproducing animals. Ca2+ is crucial in orchestrating this unique event …

Contrary to the prevalent view, there seems to be no competition in the mammalian female
genital tract among large numbers of sperm cells that are racing towards the egg. Instead …

Varying pH of luminal fluid along the female reproductive tract is a physiological cue that
modulates sperm motility. CatSper is a sperm-specific, pH-sensitive calcium channel …

Sperm require a sense of direction to locate the egg for fertilization. They follow gradients of
chemical and physical cues provided by the egg or the oviduct. However, the principles …

Sperm motility is necessary for the transport of male DNA to eggs in species with both
external and internal fertilization. Flagella comprise several proteins for generating and …

The shape of the flagellar beat determines the path along which a sperm cell swims. If the
flagellum bends periodically about a curved mean shape then the sperm will follow a path …

Sperm are propelled by an actively beating tail, and display a wide variety of swimming
patterns. When confined between two parallel walls, sperm swim either in circles or on …

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is essential for cell function. Notably, several unique sperm
ion transporters and enzymes whose elimination causes infertility are either pHi dependent …

Sperm are attracted by chemical factors that are released by the egg—a process called
chemotaxis. Most of our knowledge on sperm chemotaxis originates from the study of marine …