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Related Concept Videos

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition01:22

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

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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...
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Sperm Transport01:15

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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...
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Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

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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...
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Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation01:17

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Sexual stimulation can take various forms, such as physical touch and visual or auditory cues. When this happens, the parasympathetic reflex in the sacral portion of the spinal cord is activated. This reflex stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), which then dilates the arterioles in the penis, increasing blood flow to the erectile tissues - the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
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Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System01:16

Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System

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The accessory ducts involved in sperm maturation and transportation include the epididymides, vasa deferentia, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra. These ducts play a critical role in the maturation, storage, and transportation of sperm from the testes to the urethra, where it is then released during ejaculation.
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Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

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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...
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Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
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Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

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Post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS).

Scott Pitnick1, Mariana F Wolfner2, Steve Dorus1

  • 1Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA.

Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|November 19, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sperm undergo post-ejaculatory modifications (PEMS) in females, crucial for fertilization across many species. These adaptations, including sperm capacitation, influence reproductive success and species boundaries.

Keywords:
capacitationfemale reproductive tractfertilityhyperactivationmorphogenesismotilitypost-copulatory sexual selectionseminal proteinssperm competitionspermatozoa

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Physiology

Background:

  • Sperm require a period within the female reproductive tract to become fertilization-competent (capacitation).
  • Post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS) are common in internally fertilizing species, though less studied in non-mammals.
  • PEMS are diverse, involving sequential sperm phenotypes for survival, migration, and fertilization capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify nomenclature related to PEMS.
  • To investigate the evolutionary origin, maintenance, and divergence of PEMS.
  • To explore the adaptive value and evolutionary implications of PEMS.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on PEMS across the animal kingdom.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of PEMS divergence (implied).
  • Theoretical and empirical investigation of PEMS evolutionary significance.

Main Results:

  • PEMS are critical for sperm function, including migration, survival, and fertilization.
  • PEMS exhibit phenotypic plasticity influenced by sperm-female interactions.
  • PEMS have implications for fitness, sexual selection, reproductive isolation, and species boundaries.

Conclusions:

  • PEMS are a widespread and evolutionarily significant phenomenon across animals.
  • Understanding PEMS is vital for comprehending reproductive isolation and sexual selection.
  • Future research should focus on functional and evolutionary analyses of PEMS.