Human spermatozoa before & after entrapment by semen fibrils

Video of sperm interacting with semen fibrils

Panel A shows human sperm cells were attached onto coverslips and examined for motility by live microscopy. Panel B shows these same four spermatozoa 10 minutes after perfusion with purified semen fibrils. The immobilization of spermatozoa by the fibrils is reversible, and promotes disposal of excess or defective sperm cells by phagocytes infiltrating the female reproductive tract. Video generated in collaboration with Polina Lishko (U.C. Berkeley).

Roan et al, Elife. 2017 Jun 27;6. pii: e24888