SPERM ENERGY METABOLISM

The development of techniques to increase sperm longevity demands knowledge about cellmetabolism. Sperm requires a constant supply of energy to maintain its cell functions.Approximately 500 metabolic reactions take place in somatic cells, and several of them requireenergy. Most of the produced energy goes for sperm motility, which is an ATP-dependentspecialized process. Spermatozoa possess the required mechanisms to produce energy throughglycolysis, citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding thesepathways provides knowledge on the interactions between the semen extender substrates andsperm cells. The aim of this review is to approach the major energy producing pathways of thesperm, as well as the substrates available for this metabolism.