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Microgrooves and fluid flows provide preferential passageways for sperm over pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- National Academy of Sciences, 2015.
-
Abstract
- Successful mammalian reproduction requires that sperm migrate through a long and convoluted female reproductive tract before reaching oocytes. For many years, fertility studies have focused on biochemical and physiological requirements of sperm. Here we show that the biophysical environment of the female reproductive tract critically guides sperm migration, while at the same time preventing the invasion of sexually transmitted pathogens. Using a microfluidic model, we demonstrate that a gentle fluid flow and microgrooves, typically found in the female reproductive tract, synergistically facilitate bull sperm migration toward the site of fertilization. In contrast, a flagellated sexually transmitted bovine pathogen, Tritrichomonas foetus, is swept downstream under the same conditions. We attribute the differential ability of sperm and T. foetus to swim against flow to the distinct motility types of sperm and T. foetus; specifically, sperm swim using a posterior flagellum and are near-surface swimmers, whereas T. foetus swims primarily via three anterior flagella and demonstrates much lower attraction to surfaces. This work highlights the importance of biophysical cues within the female reproductive tract in the reproductive process and provides insight into coevolution of males and females to promote fertilization while suppressing infection. Furthermore, the results provide previously unidentified directions for the development of in vitro fertilization devices and contraceptives.
- Subjects :
- Male
media_common.quotation_subject
medicine.medical_treatment
Cattle Diseases
Fertility
Cervix Uteri
Tritrichomonas foetus
Flagellum
Biology
Mammalian reproduction
Human fertilization
medicine
Animals
Sperm motility
reproductive and urinary physiology
Fallopian Tubes
media_common
Multidisciplinary
In vitro fertilisation
Protozoan Infections
urogenital system
Biological Sciences
Abortion, Veterinary
biology.organism_classification
Sperm
Spermatozoa
Cell biology
Immunology
Sperm Motility
Cattle
Female
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6f991c44266908d08bd6d1c7457d5182