The use of optical tweezers to study sperm competition and motility in primates.
Optical trapping is a non-invasive biophysical tool which has been widely applied to study physiological and biomechanical properties of cells. Using laser 'tweezers' in combination with custom-designed computer tracking algorithms, the swimming speeds and the relative swimming forces of individual sperm can be measured in real time. This combination of physical and engineering tools has been used to examine the evolutionary effect of sperm competition in primates. The results demonstrate a correlation between mating type and sperm motility: sperm from polygamous (multi-partner) primate species swim faster and with greater force than sperm from polygynous (single partner) primate species. In addition, sperm swimming force linearly increases with swimming speed for each species, yet the regression relating the two parameters is species specific. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using these tools to study rapidly moving (microm s(-1)) biological cells.
Nascimento
Jaclyn M
JM
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. jaclyn.nascimento@gmail.com
Shi
Linda Z
LZ
Meyers
Stuart
S
Gagneux
Pascal
P
Loskutoff
Naida M
NM
Botvinick
Elliot L
EL
Berns
Michael W
MW
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D011323:Primates / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*