New target for male contraception suggested by new sperm discovery

Sperm’s motility is in fact short lived. Scientists have long known that sperm’s activity level, that swimming with quick movements of their “tail” or flagella, depends on their internal pH. Recently, researchers from University of California, San Francisco, reported that have finally found the channel that allows the tiny cells to rid themselves of protons. Once in the female reproductive tract, that proton release changes their internal environment from acidic to alkaline and begins their race to the finish line.

According to the researchers the findings offer new insight into a critical event in human fertilization and may lead to new ways of controlling male fertility.

The study conclusions are published in the February 5th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication