Fuel for the finish line: how sperm achieve “overdrive”

What is it about?

Before ejaculation, mammalian sperm rest in a low-energy state. Afterward, as they swim through the female reproductive tract, they make a series of rapid behavioral changes. These ultimately help them reach and fertilize an egg. While scientists knew these behavioral changes required a large amount of energy for their journey, they weren’t sure how sperm adjusted to meet the demand. We created a special technique that allowed us to track the metabolism of glucose, which sperm take up from their environment and use as a sort of fuel. By tracing the chemical journey of glucose within sperm, we observed key differences between dormant and active specimens. This includes the discovery that a particular enzyme called aldolase helps sperm convert glucose into energy, and that sperm even utilize molecular fuel that they already have on board when they begin their trek.

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Why is it important?

These findings are helping reshape our understanding of reproductive science, and could lead to improved treatment of infertility and new methods of contraception.