scholarly journals Human sperm uses asymmetric and anisotropic flagellar controls to regulate swimming symmetry and cell steering

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (31) ◽  
pp. eaba5168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermes Gadêlha ◽  
Paul Hernández-Herrera ◽  
Fernando Montoya ◽  
Alberto Darszon ◽  
Gabriel Corkidi
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Bilateral Symmetry ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Optical Illusion ◽  
3D Microscopy ◽  
Molecular Components ◽  
Molecular Asymmetries

Flagellar beating drives sperm through the female reproductive tract and is vital for reproduction. Flagellar waves are generated by thousands of asymmetric molecular components; yet, paradoxically, forward swimming arises via symmetric side-to-side flagellar movement. This led to the preponderance of symmetric flagellar control hypotheses. However, molecular asymmetries must still dictate the flagellum and be manifested in the beat. Here, we reconcile molecular and microscopic observations, reconnecting structure to function, by showing that human sperm uses asymmetric and anisotropic controls to swim. High-speed three-dimensional (3D) microscopy revealed two coactive transversal controls: An asymmetric traveling wave creates a one-sided stroke, and a pulsating standing wave rotates the sperm to move equally on all sides. Symmetry is thus achieved through asymmetry, creating the optical illusion of bilateral symmetry in 2D microscopy. This shows that the sperm flagellum is asymmetrically controlled and anisotropically regularized by fast-signal transduction. This enables the sperm to swim forward.

Effect of Contraceptive Steroids on the Endometrium of Guinea Pig: SEM study

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 668-669
Author(s):  
Mai M. Said ◽  
Ramesh K. Nayak ◽  
Randall E. McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Female ◽  
Surface Ultrastructure ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Sem Study ◽  
Uterine Mucosa ◽  
Group 1

Burgos and Wislocki described changes in the mucosa of the guinea pig uterus, cervix and vagina during the estrous cycle investigated by transmission electron microscopy. More recently, Moghissi and Reame reported the effects of progestational agents on the human female reproductive tract. They found drooping and shortening of cilia in norgestrel and norethindrone- treated endometria. To the best of our knowledge, no studies concerning the effects of mestranol and norethindrone given concurrently on the three-dimensional surface features on the uterine mucosa of the guinea pig have been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mestranol and norethindrone on surface ultrastructure of guinea pig uterus by SEM.Seventy eight animals were used in this study. They were allocated into two groups. Group 1 (20 animals) was injected intramuscularly 0.1 ml vegetable oil and served as controls.

scholarly journals Organoids of the female reproductive tract

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindrilla Chumduri ◽  
Margherita Y. Turco
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Personalised Medicine ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Cellular Heterogeneity ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth

AbstractHealthy functioning of the female reproductive tract (FRT) depends on balanced and dynamic regulation by hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and childbirth. The mucosal epithelial lining of different regions of the FRT—ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina—facilitates the selective transport of gametes and successful transfer of the zygote to the uterus where it implants and pregnancy takes place. It also prevents pathogen entry. Recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) organoid systems from the FRT now provide crucial experimental models that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity and physiological, anatomical and functional properties of the organ in vitro. In this review, we summarise the state of the art on organoids generated from different regions of the FRT. We discuss the potential applications of these powerful in vitro models to study normal physiology, fertility, infections, diseases, drug discovery and personalised medicine.

119. IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF SURFACE PROTEIN COMPLEXES IN HUMAN SPERMATOZOA

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Redgrove ◽  
B. Nixon ◽  
E. A. McLaughlin ◽  
M. K. O'Bryan ◽  
R. J. Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Spermatozoa ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms

A unique characteristic of mammalian spermatozoa is that upon ejaculation, they are unable to recognise and bind to an ovulated oocyte. These functional attributes are only realised following the sperms ascent of the female reproductive tract whereupon they undergo a myriad of biochemical and biophysical changes collectively referred to as ‘capacitation’. Since spermatozoa are both transcriptionally and translationally quiescent cells, this functional transformation must be engineered by a combination of post-translational modification and spatial reorganisation of existing sperm proteins. Indeed, evidence from our laboratory suggests that a key attribute of capacitation is the remodeling of the sperm surface architecture leading to the assembly and / or presentation of multimeric sperm-oocyte receptor complex(es). Through the novel application of Blue Native Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), we have secured the first direct evidence that human spermatozoa express a number of these protein complexes on their surface. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that a subset of these complexes harbour putative zona adhesion proteins and display strong affinity for solubilised zona pellucidae. In this study, we have extended our findings through the characterisation of one such complex containing arylsulfatase A (ASA), a protein with recognised affinity for sulfated ligands present within the zona pellucida. Through the application of immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry we revealed that ASA undergoes a capacitation-associated translocation to become expressed on the apical region of the human sperm head, a location compatible with a role in the mediation of sperm-zona pellucida interactions. This dramatic relocation was completely abolished by incubation of capacitating spermatozoa in exogenous cholesterol, suggesting that it may be driven in part by alteration in the membrane fluidity characteristics. Our current research is focused on confirming the role of ASA in human sperm-zona pellucida adhesion and elucidating the precise cellular mechanisms that underpin the proteins translocation to the cell surface.

scholarly journals Mobilisation of Ca2+ stores and flagellar regulation in human sperm by S-nitrosylation: a role for NO synthesised in the female reproductive tract

Development ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (22) ◽  
pp. 3677-3686 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Machado-Oliveira ◽  
L. Lefievre ◽  
C. Ford ◽  
M. B. Herrero ◽  
C. Barratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract

scholarly journals In vitro 3D Model of Female Reproductive Tract: An Overview and Future Aspect

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Martino Capuzzo
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Current State ◽  
Pregnancy And Delivery ◽  
Recent Developments

Hormones must be balanced and dynamically controlled for the Female Reproductive Tract (FRT) to function correctly during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and delivery. Gamete selection and successful transfer to the uterus, where it implants and pregnancy occurs, is supported by the mucosal epithelial lining of the FRT ovaries, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and vagina. Successful implantation and placentation in humans and other animals rely on complex interactions between the embryo and a receptive female reproductive system. The FRT's recent breakthroughs in three-dimensional (3D) organoid systems now provide critical experimental models that match the organ's physiological, functional, and anatomical characteristics in vitro. This article summarizes the current state of the art on organoids generated from various parts of the FRT. The current analysis examines recent developments in the creation of organoid models of reproductive organs, as well as their future directions.

scholarly journals High-resolution 4-D acquisition of freely swimming human sperm cells without staining

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (15) ◽  
pp. eaay7619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gili Dardikman-Yoffe ◽  
Simcha K. Mirsky ◽  
Itay Barnea ◽  
Natan T. Shaked
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Sperm Cell ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Refractive Index Profile ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Natural Movement

We present a new acquisition method that enables high-resolution, fine-detail full reconstruction of the three-dimensional movement and structure of individual human sperm cells swimming freely. We achieve both retrieval of the three-dimensional refractive-index profile of the sperm head, revealing its fine internal organelles and time-varying orientation, and the detailed four-dimensional localization of the thin, highly-dynamic flagellum of the sperm cell. Live human sperm cells were acquired during free swim using a high-speed off-axis holographic system that does not require any moving elements or cell staining. The reconstruction is based solely on the natural movement of the sperm cell and a novel set of algorithms, enabling the detailed four-dimensional recovery. Using this refractive-index imaging approach, we believe that we have detected an area in the cell that is attributed to the centriole. This method has great potential for both biological assays and clinical use of intact sperm cells.

Engineering sperm-binding IgG antibodies for the development of an effective nonhormonal female contraception

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (606) ◽  
pp. eabd5219
Author(s):  
Bhawana Shrestha ◽  
Alison Schaefer ◽  
Yong Zhu ◽  
Jamal Saada ◽  
Timothy M. Jacobs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Infertile Woman ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Contraceptive Methods ◽  
Sperm Binding ◽  
Polyvalent Immunoglobulins ◽  
Unique Surface

Many women risk unintended pregnancy because of medical contraindications or dissatisfaction with contraceptive methods, including real and perceived side effects associated with the use of exogenous hormones. We pursued direct vaginal delivery of sperm-binding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can limit progressive sperm motility in the female reproductive tract as a strategy for effective nonhormonal contraception. Here, motivated by the greater agglutination potencies of polyvalent immunoglobulins but the bioprocessing ease and stability of immunoglobulin G (IgG), we engineered a panel of sperm-binding IgGs with 6 to 10 antigen-binding fragments (Fabs), isolated from a healthy immune-infertile woman against a unique surface antigen universally present on human sperm. These highly multivalent IgGs (HM-IgGs) were at least 10- to 16-fold more potent and faster at agglutinating sperm than the parent IgG while preserving the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of IgG that mediates trapping of individual spermatozoa in mucus. The increased potencies translated into effective (>99.9%) reduction of progressively motile sperm in the sheep vagina using as little as 33 μg of the 10-Fab HM-IgG. HM-IgGs were produced at comparable yields and had identical thermal stability to the parent IgG, with greater homogeneity. HM-IgGs represent not only promising biologics for nonhormonal contraception but also a promising platform for engineering potent multivalent mAbs for other biomedical applications.

scholarly journals Effects of lactoferrin, a protein present in the female reproductive tract, on parameters of human sperm capacitation and gamete interaction

Andrology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1068-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Zumoffen ◽  
E. Massa ◽  
A. M. Caille ◽  
M. J. Munuce ◽  
S. A. Ghersevich
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Capacitation ◽  
Gamete Interaction

scholarly journals Assessment of Human Sperm Function After Recovery from the Female Reproductive Tract

1984 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 888-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Gould ◽  
James W. Overstreet ◽  
Fredrick W. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Function

scholarly journals Recent scientific advances in leiomyoma (uterine fibroids) research facilitates better understanding and management

F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene K. Taylor ◽  
Kristine Holthouser ◽  
James H. Segars ◽  
Phyllis C. Leppert
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Uterine Fibroids ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Surgical Approaches ◽  
Clinical Method ◽  
Diagnostic Approaches ◽  
Molecular Components ◽  
Non Surgical Treatment

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most prevalent medical problem of the female reproductive tract, but there are few non-surgical treatment options. Although many advances in the understanding of the molecular components of these tumors have occurred over the past five years, an effective pharmaceutical approach remains elusive. Further, there is currently no clinical method to distinguish a benign uterine leiomyoma from a malignant leiomyosarcoma prior to treatment, a pressing need given concerns about the use of the power morcellator for minimally invasive surgery. This paper reviews current studies regarding the molecular biology of uterine fibroids, discusses non-surgical approaches and suggests new cutting-edge therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

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