Infertility

It’s long been known by scientists that the alkaline environment of the female reproductive tract triggers sperm’s whip-like motion, said David Clapham, MD, PhD, the study’s lead investigator.

In earlier studies, Clapham and his colleagues showed that a protein found only in the sperm tail was required for male fertility.

This earlier study in conjunction with researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Texas Southwestern also found that this special protein was necessary for hyperactivation to occur, as well.

Finally Clearing a HurdleIn these earlier experiments, research scientists attempted to use a technique to peer into the electrical activity of a sperm.

They attempted to do this by peering into pores in the sperm’s membrane called ion channels.

But the sperm’s constant movement and other difficulties ma...

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