Sperm transport in the female reproductive tract

被引:775
作者
Suarez, SS
Pacey, AA
机构
[1] Cornell Univ, Dept Biomed Sci, Coll Vet Med, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
[2] Univ Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hosp, Acad Unit Reprod & Dev Med, Sheffield S10 2JF, S Yorkshire, England
关键词
Fallopian tube; spermatozoa; uterine tube; uterus; vagina;
D O I
10.1093/humupd/dmi047
中图分类号
R71 [妇产科学];
学科分类号
100211 ;
摘要
At coitus, human sperm are deposited into the anterior vagina, where, to avoid vaginal acid and immune responses, they quickly contact cervical mucus and enter the cervix. Cervical mucus filters out sperm with poor morphology and motility and as such only a minority of ejaculated sperm actually enter the cervix. In the uterus, muscular contractions may enhance passage of sperm through the uterine cavity. A few thousand sperm swim through the uterotubal junctions to reach the Fallopian tubes (uterine tubes, oviducts) where sperm are stored in a reservoir, or at least maintained in a fertile state, by interacting with endosalpingeal (oviductal) epithelium. As the time of ovulation approaches, sperm become capacitated and hyperactivated, which enables them to proceed towards the tubal ampulla. Sperm may be guided to the oocyte by a combination of thermotaxis and chemotaxis. Motility hyperactivation assists sperm in penetrating mucus in the tubes and the cumulus oophorus and zona pellucida of the oocyte, so that they may finally fuse with the oocyte plasma membrane. Knowledge of the biology of sperm transport can inspire improvements in artificial insemination, IVF, the diagnosis of infertility and the development of contraceptives.
引用
收藏
页码:23 / 37
页数:15
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