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Exceptional sperm cooperation in the wood mouse.

Harry Moore1, Katerina Dvoráková, Nicholas Jenkins

  • 1Section of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, S10 2UH, UK. h.d.moore@shef.ac.uk

Nature
|July 12, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Spermatozoa from the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, form cooperative "trains" that enhance motility during sperm competition. This probable altruistic behavior aids sperm transport but compromises individual fertilization ability.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Spermatozoa compete for fertilization, and genetic relatedness may promote altruism.
  • Inter-male sperm competition can intensify selective pressures on sperm behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential altruistic behavior in spermatozoa during intense sperm competition.
  • To examine the cooperative strategies employed by spermatozoa in the eutherian mammal, Apodemus sylvaticus.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of spermatozoa morphology and behavior in Apodemus sylvaticus.
  • Analysis of sperm aggregation formation and motility.
  • Assessment of acrosome reaction timing in relation to sperm trains and egg proximity.

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Main Results:

  • Spermatozoa of Apodemus sylvaticus form cooperative aggregations or 'trains'.
  • These sperm trains significantly increase progressive motility, enhancing transport efficiency.
  • Spermatozoa within trains undergo premature acrosome reactions, indicating altruistic behavior that aids fellow sperm but reduces individual fertilization potential.

Conclusions:

  • Cooperative sperm aggregation in Apodemus sylvaticus represents a probable form of altruism in eutherian mammals.
  • This behavior provides a competitive advantage during inter-male sperm competition by improving sperm transport.
  • Altruistic sperm sacrifice their own fertilization potential to benefit the group, a strategy likely driven by intense competition.