Open AccessActivation of motility and chemotaxis in the spermatozoa: From invertebrates to humans
Author(s) -
MORISAWA MASAAKI,
YOSHIDA MANABU
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0578.2005.00099.x
Subject(s) - chemotaxis , sperm , marine invertebrates , motility , biology , sperm motility , human fertilization , invertebrate , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , anatomy , genetics , receptor
Activation of the sperm motility and chemotactic behavior of sperm toward eggs are the first communication between spermatozoa and eggs at fertilization, and understanding of the phenomena is a prerequisite for progress of not only basic biology, but also clinical aspects. The nature of molecules derived from eggs by which sperm are activated and attracted towards the eggs and the molecular mechanisms underlying the sperm activation and chemotaxis have been investigated in only a few invertebrate species, sea urchins, ascidians and herring fish. However, knowledge on this phenomena has been ignored in mammalian species including humans. The current review first introduces the studies on the activation and chemotaxis of sperm in marine invertebrates, and the same phenomena in mammals including humans, are described. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4 : 101–115)