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Hernández HO, Montoya F, Hernández-Herrera P, Díaz-Guerrero DS, Olveres J, Bloomfield-Gadêlha H, Darszon A, Escalante-Ramírez B, Corkidi G. Feature-based 3D+t descriptors of hyperactivated human sperm beat patterns. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26645. [PMID: 38444471 PMCID: PMC10912238 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The flagellar movement of the mammalian sperm plays a crucial role in fertilization. In the female reproductive tract, human spermatozoa undergo a process called capacitation which promotes changes in their motility. Only capacitated spermatozoa may be hyperactivated and only those that transition to hyperactivated motility are capable of fertilizing the egg. Hyperactivated motility is characterized by asymmetric flagellar bends of greater amplitude and lower frequency. Historically, clinical fertilization studies have used two-dimensional analysis to classify sperm motility, despite the inherently three-dimensional (3D) nature of sperm motion. Recent research has described several 3D beating features of sperm flagella. However, the 3D motility pattern of hyperactivated spermatozoa has not yet been characterized. One of the main challenges in classifying these patterns in 3D is the lack of a ground-truth reference, as it can be difficult to visually assess differences in flagellar beat patterns. Additionally, it is worth noting that only a relatively small proportion, approximately 10-20% of sperm incubated under capacitating conditions exhibit hyperactivated motility. In this work, we used a multifocal image acquisition system that can acquire, segment, and track sperm flagella in 3D+t. We developed a feature-based vector that describes the spatio-temporal flagellar sperm motility patterns by an envelope of ellipses. The classification results obtained using our 3D feature-based descriptors can serve as potential label for future work involving deep neural networks. By using the classification results as labels, it will be possible to train a deep neural network to automatically classify spermatozoa based on their 3D flagellar beating patterns. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the descriptors by applying them to a dataset of human sperm cells and showing that they can accurately differentiate between non-hyperactivated and hyperactivated 3D motility patterns of the sperm cells. This work contributes to the understanding of 3D flagellar hyperactive motility patterns and provides a framework for research in the fields of human and animal fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haydee O. Hernández
- Posgrado en Ciencia e Ingeniería de la Computación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Fernando Montoya
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Paul Hernández-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Dan S. Díaz-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Jimena Olveres
- Departamento de Procesamiento de Señales, Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Hermes Bloomfield-Gadêlha
- Department of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Boris Escalante-Ramírez
- Departamento de Procesamiento de Señales, Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Corkidi
- Laboratorio de Imágenes y Visión por Computadora, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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2
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Bouloorchi Tabalvandani M, Javadizadeh S, Badieirostami M. Bio-inspired progressive motile sperm separation using joint rheotaxis and boundary-following behavior. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1636-1647. [PMID: 38284817 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00893b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Infertility, as a daunting ever-increasing challenge, poses a worldwide issue to both couples and the healthcare sector. According to the World Health Organization, half of infertility cases are attributed to male factor infertility, either partly or completely. Semen parameters of concern including sperm count, morphology, and motility are deemed to play a vital role in the insemination process. Density gradient centrifugation, being a clinically established procedure for improving on the mentioned parameters, has long been proven to inflict damage on the DNA content of the sperm cells, inducing DNA fragmentation. Herein, a bio-inspired microfluidic device is proposed that capitalizes on the geometry of the uterotubal junction (UTJ) of the female reproductive tract, which can act as a rheological barrier. The device leverages sperm rheotaxis and boundary-following behavior which have been considered as major migratory mechanisms used by sperm during the fertilization process in the female body. The device consists of a series of parallel channels that guide progressive motile sperms into the main sorting channel, where the hydrodynamic barriers created by two consecutive UTJ-like constrictions select sperms based on their propulsive velocity and linearity of motion. The sequential sorting employed here allows for the fractionation of the sperm population into two subpopulations with varying degrees of motility. Both sorted populations showed a significant increase in straight line velocity, reaching 63.4 ± 14.4 μm s-1 and 74 ± 13.8 μm s-1 in the first and second pools, respectively from 35.2 ± 27.2 μm s-1 in raw semen. Additionally, sorted populations demonstrated over 30% reduction in DNA fragmentation index, an indication that the proposed device selects for undamaged sperms with high quality. Apart from the biological superiority of the sorted sperms, this device presents itself as an easy and clinically-applicable method for the separation of progressive motile sperms, while at the same time, benefiting from a straightforward procedure for sperm retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Javadizadeh
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Zöttl A, Tesser F, Matsunaga D, Laurent J, du Roure O, Lindner A. Asymmetric bistability of chiral particle orientation in viscous shear flows. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310939120. [PMID: 37906645 PMCID: PMC10636314 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310939120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The migration of helical particles in viscous shear flows plays a crucial role in chiral particle sorting. Attaching a nonchiral head to a helical particle leads to a rheotactic torque inducing particle reorientation. This phenomenon is responsible for bacterial rheotaxis observed for flagellated bacteria as Escherichia coli in shear flows. Here, we use a high-resolution microprinting technique to fabricate microparticles with controlled and tunable chiral shape consisting of a spherical head and helical tails of various pitch and handedness. By observing the fully time-resolved dynamics of these microparticles in microfluidic channel flow, we gain valuable insights into chirality-induced orientation dynamics. Our experimental model system allows us to examine the effects of particle elongation, chirality, and head heaviness for different flow rates on the orientation dynamics, while minimizing the influence of Brownian noise. Through our model experiments, we demonstrate the existence of asymmetric bistability of the particle orientation perpendicular to the flow direction. We quantitatively explain the particle equilibrium orientations as a function of particle properties, initial conditions and flow rates, as well as the time-dependence of the reorientation dynamics through a theoretical model. The model parameters are determined using boundary element simulations, and excellent agreement with experiments is obtained without any adjustable parameters. Our findings lead to a better understanding of chiral particle transport and bacterial rheotaxis and might allow the development of targeted delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zöttl
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Wien1090, Austria
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Technische Universität Wien, Wien1040, Austria
| | - Francesca Tesser
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
| | - Daiki Matsunaga
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka5608531, Japan
| | - Justine Laurent
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
| | - Olivia du Roure
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
| | - Anke Lindner
- Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris75005, France
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Mo C, Fu Q, Bian X. Chemotaxis of an elastic flagellated microrobot. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:044408. [PMID: 37978695 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.044408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Machine learning algorithms offer a tool to boost mobility and flexibility of a synthetic microswimmer, hence may help us design truly smart microrobots. In this work, we design a two-gait microrobot swimming in circular or helical trajectory. It utilizes the coupling between flagellum elasticity and resistive force to change the characteristics of swimming trajectory. Leveraging a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach, we show that the microrobot can self-learn chemotactic motion autonomously (without heuristics) using only several current and historical chemoattractant concentration and curvature information. The learned strategy is more efficient than a human-devised shortsighted strategy and can be further greatly improved in a stochastic environment. Furthermore, in the helical trajectory case, if additional heuristic information of direction is supplemented to evaluate the strategy during the learning process, then a highly efficient strategy can be discovered by the DRL. The microrobot can quickly align the helix vector to the gradient direction using just several smart sequential gait switchings. The success for the efficient strategies depends on how much historical information is provided and also the steering angle step size of the microrobot. Our results provide useful guidance for the design and smart maneuver of synthetic spermlike microswimmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Mo
- Aircraft and Propulsion Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo 315100, People's Republic of China and State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingfei Fu
- School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China and Aircraft and Propulsion Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo 315100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
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Nath B, Caprini L, Maggi C, Zizzari A, Arima V, Viola I, Di Leonardo R, Puglisi A. A microfluidic method for passive trapping of sperms in microstructures. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:773-784. [PMID: 36723114 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00997h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sperm motility is a prerequisite for male fertility. Enhancing the concentration of motile sperms in assisted reproductive technologies - for human and animal reproduction - is typically achieved through aggressive methods such as centrifugation. Here, we propose a passive technique for the amplification of motile sperm concentration, with no externally imposed forces or flows. The technique is based on the disparity between probability rates, for motile cells, of entering and escaping from complex structures. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated in microfluidic experiments with microstructured devices, comparing the trapping power in different geometries. In these micro-traps, we observe an enhancement of cells' concentration close to 10, with a contrast between motile and non-motile cells increased by a similar factor. Simulations of suitable interacting model sperms in realistic geometries reproduce quantitatively the experimental results, extend the range of observations and highlight the components that are key to the optimal trap design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binita Nath
- ISC-CNR, Institute for Complex Systems, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar - 788010, Assam, India
| | - Lorenzo Caprini
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Theoretische Physik II - Soft Matter, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Claudio Maggi
- NANOTEC-CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, Soft and Living Matter Laboratory, c/o Dipt. di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zizzari
- NANOTEC-CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, I-73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Valentina Arima
- NANOTEC-CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, I-73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Ilenia Viola
- NANOTEC-CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, Soft and Living Matter Laboratory, c/o Dipt. di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Leonardo
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
- NANOTEC-CNR, Institute of Nanotechnology, Soft and Living Matter Laboratory, c/o Dipt. di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Puglisi
- ISC-CNR, Institute for Complex Systems, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185 Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 2, I-00185, Rome, Italy
- INFN, Unità di Roma Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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6
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Mo C, Fedosov DA. Hydrodynamic clustering of two finite-length flagellated swimmers in viscoelastic fluids. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20220667. [PMID: 36751932 PMCID: PMC9905986 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustering of flagellated microswimmers such as sperm is often mediated by hydrodynamic interactions between them. To better understand the interaction of microswimmers in viscoelastic fluids, we perform two-dimensional simulations of two swimming sheets, using a viscoelastic version of the smoothed dissipative particle dynamics method that implements the Oldroyd-B fluid model. Elasticity of sheets (stiff versus soft) defines two qualitatively different regimes of clustering, where stiff sheets exhibit a much more robust clustering than soft sheets. A formed doublet of soft sheets generally swims faster than a single swimmer, while a pair of two stiff sheets normally shows no speed enhancement after clustering. A pair of two identical swimmers is stable for most conditions, while differences in the beating amplitudes and/or frequencies between the two sheets can destroy the doublet stability. Clustering of two distinct swimmers is most stable at Deborah numbers of De = τω ≈ 1 (τ is the relaxation time of a viscoelastic fluid and ω is the beating frequency), in agreement with experimental observations. Therefore, the clustering of two swimmers depends non-monotonically on De. Our results suggest that the cluster stability is likely a dominant factor which determines the cluster size of collectively moving flagellated swimmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Mo
- Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Aircraft and Propulsion Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo 315100, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dmitry A. Fedosov
- Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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7
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Nixon B, Schjenken JE, Burke ND, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Hart HM, De Iuliis GN, Martin JH, Lord T, Bromfield EG. New horizons in human sperm selection for assisted reproduction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1145533. [PMID: 36909306 PMCID: PMC9992892 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1145533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a commonly encountered pathology that is estimated to be a contributory factor in approximately 50% of couples seeking recourse to assisted reproductive technologies. Upon clinical presentation, such males are commonly subjected to conventional diagnostic andrological practices that rely on descriptive criteria to define their fertility based on the number of morphologically normal, motile spermatozoa encountered within their ejaculate. Despite the virtual ubiquitous adoption of such diagnostic practices, they are not without their limitations and accordingly, there is now increasing awareness of the importance of assessing sperm quality in order to more accurately predict a male's fertility status. This realization raises the important question of which characteristics signify a high-quality, fertilization competent sperm cell. In this review, we reflect on recent advances in our mechanistic understanding of sperm biology and function, which are contributing to a growing armory of innovative approaches to diagnose and treat male infertility. In particular we review progress toward the implementation of precision medicine; the robust clinical adoption of which in the setting of fertility, currently lags well behind that of other fields of medicine. Despite this, research shows that the application of advanced technology platforms such as whole exome sequencing and proteomic analyses hold considerable promise in optimizing outcomes for the management of male infertility by uncovering and expanding our inventory of candidate infertility biomarkers, as well as those associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. Similarly, the development of advanced imaging technologies in tandem with machine learning artificial intelligence are poised to disrupt the fertility care paradigm by advancing our understanding of the molecular and biological causes of infertility to provide novel avenues for future diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brett Nixon,
| | - John E. Schjenken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Nathan D. Burke
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - David A. Skerrett-Byrne
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Hanah M. Hart
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Geoffry N. De Iuliis
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jacinta H. Martin
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Tessa Lord
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth G. Bromfield
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
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8
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Zhong Z, Zhang C, Liu R, He J, Yang H, Cheng Z, Wang T, Shao M, Fang S, Zhang S, Shi H, Xue R, Zou H, Ke Z, Zhang Z, Zhou J. Chirality and frequency measurement of longitudinal rolling of human sperm using optical trap. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1028857. [PMID: 36578507 PMCID: PMC9790903 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1028857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Motility is one of the most critical features to evaluate sperm quality. As longitudinal rolling of human sperm has long been ignored until recently, its detailed dynamics and cellular biological mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here we report an optical-tweezers-based method to evaluate the chirality and frequency of sperm rotation. According to the intensity distribution patterns of off-focus micron-size particles, we established a method to judge the orientation of the sperm head along the optical axis in the optical trap. Together with the rotation direction of the projection of the sperm head, the chirality of longitudinal rolling of sperm can be measured without the application of three-dimensional tracking techniques or complex optical design. By video tracking optically trapped sperm cells from different patients, both rolling chirality and rolling frequency were analyzed. In this study, all the vertically trapped human sperm cells adopt a right-hand longitudinal rolling. The orientation and rolling frequency but not the rolling chirality of sperm in the optical trap are affected by the trap height. The rotation analysis method developed in this study may have clinical potential for sperm quality evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhensheng Zhong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Can Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun He
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Han Yang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zijie Cheng
- School of Science & Technology City, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Meng Shao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shu Fang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shengzhao Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Shi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rufeng Xue
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huijuan Zou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zeyu Ke
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Zhiguo Zhang, ; Jinhua Zhou,
| | - Jinhua Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Zhiguo Zhang, ; Jinhua Zhou,
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9
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Frintrop L, Wiesehöfer C, Stoskus A, Hilken G, Dubicanac M, von Ostau NE, Rode S, Elgeti J, Dankert JT, Wennemuth G. cAMP and the Fibrous Sheath Protein CABYR (Ca2+-Binding Tyrosine-Phosphorylation-Regulated Protein) Is Required for 4D Sperm Movement. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810607. [PMID: 36142535 PMCID: PMC9502204 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A new life starts with successful fertilization whereby one sperm from a pool of millions fertilizes the oocyte. Sperm motility is one key factor for this selection process, which depends on a coordinated flagellar movement. The flagellar beat cycle is regulated by Ca2+ entry via CatSper, cAMP, Mg2+, ADP and ATP. This study characterizes the effects of these parameters for 4D sperm motility, especially for flagellar movement and the conserved clockwise (CW) path chirality of murine sperm. Therefore, we use detergent-extracted mouse sperm and digital holographic microscopy (DHM) to show that a balanced ratio of ATP to Mg2+ in addition with 18 µM cAMP and 1 mM ADP is necessary for controlled flagellar movement, induction of rolling along the long axis and CW path chirality. Rolling along the sperm’s long axis, a proposed mechanism for sperm selection, is absent in sea urchin sperm, lacking flagellar fibrous sheath (FS) and outer-dense fibers (ODFs). In sperm lacking CABYR, a Ca2+-binding tyrosine-phosphorylation regulated protein located in the FS, the swim path chirality is preserved. We conclude that specific concentrations of ATP, ADP, cAMP and Mg2+ as well as a functional CABYR play an important role for sperm motility especially for path chirality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Frintrop
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Caroline Wiesehöfer
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Aura Stoskus
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Gero Hilken
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Marko Dubicanac
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Rode
- Theoretical Soft Matter and Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jens Elgeti
- Theoretical Soft Matter and Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jaroslaw Thomas Dankert
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Gunther Wennemuth
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Hernandez HO, Hernandez-Herrera P, Montoya F, Olveres J, Bloomfield-Gadelha H, Darszon A, Escalante-Ramirez B, Corkidi G. 3D+t feature-based descriptor for unsupervised flagellar human sperm beat classification. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2022; 2022:488-492. [PMID: 36085948 DOI: 10.1109/embc48229.2022.9871419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human spermatozoa must swim through the female reproductive tract, where they undergo a series of biochemical and biophysical reactions called capacitation, a necessary step to fertilize the egg. Capacitation promotes changes in the motility pattern. Historically, a two-dimensional analysis has been used to classify sperm motility and clinical fertilization studies. Nevertheless, in a natural environment sperm motility is three-dimensional (3D). Imaging flagella of freely swimming sperm is a difficult task due to their high beating frequency of up to 25 Hz. Very recent studies have described several sperm flagellum 3D beating features (curvature, torsion, asymmetries, etc.). However, up to date, the 3D motility pattern of hyperactivated spermatozoa has not been characterized. The main difficulty in classifying these patterns in 3D is the lack of a ground truth reference since differences in flagellar beat patterns are very difficult to assess visually. Moreover, only around 10-20% of induced to capacitate spermatozoa are truly capacitated, i.e., hyperactivated. We used an image acquisition system that can acquire, segment, and track spermatozoa flagella in 3D+t. In this work, we propose an original three-dimensional feature vector formed by ellipses describing the envelope of the 3D+t spatio-temporal flagellar sperm motility patterns. These features allowed compressing an unlabeled 3D+t dataset to separate hyperactivated cells from others (capacitated from non-capacitated cells) using unsupervised hierarchical clustering. Preliminary results show three main clusters of flagellar motility patterns. The first principal component of these 3D flagella measurements correlated with 2D OpenCASA head determinations as a first approach to validate the unsupervised classification, showing a reasonable correlation coefficient near to 0.7. Clinical relevance- The novelty of this work is defining a 3D+t feature-based descriptor consisting of a set of ellipses enveloping the flagellar motion of human sperm for its unsu-pervised classification. This is a new promising tool to determine the viability of human sperm to fertilize the egg.
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11
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Wiesehöfer C, Wiesehöfer M, Dankert JT, Chung JJ, von Ostau NE, Singer BB, Wennemuth G. CatSper and its CaM-like Ca 2+ sensor EFCAB9 are necessary for the path chirality of sperm. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22288. [PMID: 35438819 PMCID: PMC9835897 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101656rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Successful fertilization depends on sperm motility adaptation. Ejaculated and activated sperm beat symmetrically in high frequency, move linearly, and swim with clockwise chirality. After capacitation, sperm beat asymmetrically with lower amplitude and a high lateral head excursion. This motility change called hyperactivation requires CatSper activation and an increase in intracellular Ca2+ . However, whether CatSper-mediated Ca2+ influx participates in controlling the swim path chirality is unknown. In this study, we show that the clockwise path chirality is preserved in mouse sperm regardless of capacitation state but is lost in the sperm either lacking the entire CatSper channel or its Ca2+ sensor EFCAB9. Pharmacological inhibition of CatSper with either mibefradil or NNC 55-0396 leads to the same loss in swim path chirality. Exposure of sperm to the recombinant N-terminal part of the zona pellucida protein 2 randomizes chirality in capacitated cells, but not in non-capacitated ones. We conclude that Ca2+ sensitive regulation of CatSper activity orchestrates clockwise swim path chirality of sperm and any substantial change, such as the physiological stimulus of zona pellucida glycoproteins, results in a loss of chirality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc Wiesehöfer
- Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany
| | | | - Jean-Ju Chung
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Nicola Edith von Ostau
- Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany,Department of Urology, University Hospital Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany
| | | | - Gunther Wennemuth
- Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45147 Essen, Germany,Correspondence to
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Nassir M, Levi M, Dardikman-Yoffe G, Mirsky SK, Shaked NT. Prediction of Sperm Progression in Three Dimensions Using Rapid Optical Imaging and Dynamic Mechanical Modeling. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081319. [PMID: 35455999 PMCID: PMC9030059 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a multidisciplinary approach for predicting how sperm cells with various morphologies swim in three-dimensions (3D), from milliseconds to much longer time scales at spatial resolutions of less than half a micron. We created the sperm 3D geometry and built a numerical mechanical model using the experimentally acquired dynamic 3D refractive-index profiles of sperm cells swimming in vitro as imaged by high-resolution optical diffraction tomography. By controlling parameters in the model, such as the size and shape of the sperm head and tail, we can then predict how different sperm cells, normal or abnormal, would swim in 3D, in the short or long term. We quantified various 3D structural factor effects on the sperm long-term motility. We found that some abnormal sperm cells swim faster than normal sperm cells, in contrast to the commonly used sperm selection assumption during in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to which sperm cells should mainly be chosen based on their progressive motion. We thus establish a new tool for sperm analysis and male-infertility diagnosis, as well as sperm selection criteria for fertility treatments.
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Powar S, Parast FY, Nandagiri A, Gaikwad AS, Potter DL, O'Bryan MK, Prabhakar R, Soria J, Nosrati R. Unraveling the Kinematics of Sperm Motion by Reconstructing the Flagellar Wave Motion in 3D. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2101089. [PMID: 35138044 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202101089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sperm swim through the female reproductive tract by propagating a 3D flagellar wave that is self-regulatory in nature and driven by dynein motors. Traditional microscopy methods fail to capture the full dynamics of sperm flagellar activity as they only image and analyze sperm motility in 2D. Here, an automated platform to analyze sperm swimming behavior in 3D by using thin-lens approximation and high-speed dark field microscopy to reconstruct the flagellar waveform in 3D is presented. It is found that head-tethered mouse sperm exhibit a rolling beating behavior in 3D with the beating frequency of 6.2 Hz using spectral analysis. The flagellar waveform bends in 3D, particularly in the distal regions, but is only weakly nonplanar and ambidextrous in nature, with the local helicity along the flagellum fluctuating between clockwise and counterclockwise handedness. These findings suggest a nonpersistent flagellar helicity. This method provides new opportunities for the accurate measurement of the full motion of eukaryotic flagella and cilia which is essential for a biophysical understanding of their activation by dynein motors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushant Powar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Farin Yazdan Parast
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ashwin Nandagiri
- IITB-Monash Research Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David L Potter
- Monash Micro-Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ranganathan Prabhakar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Julio Soria
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Laboratory for Turbulence Research in Aerospace & Combustion (LTRAC), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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3D Curvature-Based Tip Load Estimation for Continuum Robots. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3194680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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15
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Abstract
Cilia are tail-like organelles responsible for motility, transportation, and sensory functions in eukaryotic cells. Cilia research has been providing multifaceted questions, attracting biologists of various areas and inducing interdisciplinary studies. In this chapter, we mainly focus on efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanism of ciliary beating motion, a field of research that has a long history and is still ongoing. We also overview topics closely related to the motility mechanism, such as ciliogenesis, cilia-related diseases, and sensory cilia. Subnanometer-scale to submillimeter-scale 3D imaging of the axoneme and the basal body resulted in a wide variety of insights into these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ishikawa
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland.
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Gompper G, Bechinger C, Stark H, Winkler RG. Editorial: Motile active matter. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:103. [PMID: 34398342 PMCID: PMC8367908 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00106-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Gompper
- Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | | | - Holger Stark
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany
| | - Roland G Winkler
- Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
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