Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

125.1K
Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male...
125.1K
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

94.3K
During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
94.3K
Sperm Transport01:15

Sperm Transport

5.4K
The journey of sperm from its origin to the point of ejaculation begins within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Here, Sertoli cells produce fluid that propels non-motile sperm through a series of conduits, starting with the straight tubules leading to the rete testis. This interconnected network of tubules acts as the initial pathway for sperm, guiding them into the efferent ductules and then into the epididymis for maturation.
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
5.4K
Sperm Structure and Semen Composition01:22

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

15.6K
During ejaculation, males release around 2-5 milliliters of semen, which is a complex mixture of mature sperm and various fluids produced by accessory glands. The mature sperm cells measure approximately 60 micrometers in length and consist of a head, neck, midpiece, and tail. The head is flattened and tapered, measuring about 4 to 5 micrometers in length. It contains a nucleus with condensed chromosomes and an acrosome, a cap-like structure filled with enzymes essential for penetrating the...
15.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Phenotyping of post-fertilization sperm mitophagy determinants discovered in a mammalian gamete-based cell-free system.

Biological research·2026
Same author

Genetic and environmental factors affecting pregnancy loss in Nellore cattle: insights from a large-scale Brazilian field database.

Journal of animal science·2026
Same author

Burden of heterozygote carriers for autosomal recessive conditions in the Middle East: A study of 14,392 genomes.

HGG advances·2026
Same author

Whole-genome doubling drives immune evasion by silencing antigen presentation.

Cancer cell·2026
Same author

Integrating next-generation sequencing into the routine neuroblastoma workflow identifies actionable genomic alterations and reduces low-yield karyotype testing.

Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology·2026
Same author

The Human Intolerome: A curated database to prioritize genomic variants in stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and neonatal death.

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
09:30

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

Published on: December 30, 2014

13.6K

Re: Is PAWP the 'real' sperm factor?

Mahmoud Aarabi, Peter Sutovsky, Richard Oko1

  • 1Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, .

Asian Journal of Andrology
|February 6, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian oocyte activation, crucial for embryo development, is triggered by sperm factors. This study explores postacrosomal WW domain-binding protein (PAWP) as a potential initiator of calcium oscillations, challenging the established role of phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ).

More Related Videos

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.9K
Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila
09:34

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

15.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
09:30

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

Published on: December 30, 2014

13.6K
Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.9K
Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila
09:34

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

15.2K

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Cellular signaling
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Mammalian embryo development begins with intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations, leading to oocyte activation after fertilization.
  • Phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ) is traditionally considered the primary sperm protein responsible for triggering these Ca2+ oscillations via inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of postacrosomal WW domain-binding protein (PAWP) as a potential sperm-derived factor initiating Ca2+ oscillations and zygotic development.
  • To critically examine the evidence supporting PAWP as the "real" sperm factor in fertilization.

Main Methods:

  • Review and discussion of recent findings on PAWP's function in fertilization.
  • Comparative analysis of PAWP and PLCζ mechanisms in triggering Ca2+ oscillations.

Main Results:

  • Recent research suggests PAWP can initiate Ca2+ oscillations and zygotic development.
  • Evidence is presented to support PAWP as a significant, potentially primary, sperm factor in initiating fertilization.

Conclusions:

  • The established view of PLCζ as the sole sperm factor initiating oocyte activation may be incomplete.
  • PAWP emerges as a strong candidate, potentially the "real" sperm factor, responsible for triggering essential Ca2+ oscillations for mammalian reproduction.