Chemotactic Maneuverability of Sperm

TL;DR

This study investigates how sea urchin sperm navigate chemical gradients by analyzing their swimming patterns and flagellar maneuvers, revealing complex behaviors that optimize chemotaxis in fluid environments.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the flagellar maneuvers underlying chemotactic navigation in sperm, highlighting their role in effective movement within fluid flows.

Findings

Identification of distinct flagellar maneuvers during chemotaxis

Complex 'turn-and-run' trajectories in sperm movement

Implications for sperm navigation in fluid flows

Abstract

In this fluid mechanics video, we explore the kinematics of chemotaxing sperm cells (sea urchin, \textit{Arbacia punctulata}) swimming in a chemoattractant gradient. We demonstrate that the complex swimming trajectories resulting in chemotactic behavior (`turn-and-run' motility) are comprised of several distinct flagellar maneuvers. These motility patterns likely play an important role optimizing chemotaxic motility and navigation, when the sperm cells are subjected external fluid flows.