Sperm functions involved in motility, capacitation, and fertilization

Sperm functions involved in motility, capacitation, and fertilization represent the critical physiological stages required for male fertility, including the acquisition of swimming ability and the capacity to penetrate the oocyte (NIH, 2024). Motility is driven by flagellar movement, while capacitation is a maturation process in the female tract involving membrane hyperpolarization and increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation (Oncotarget, 2017). These processes are regulated by key molecular mediators such as the Cation channel of sperm (CatSper), soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), and the potassium channel Slo3 (Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2021). Dysfunction in these pathways leads to male infertility, specifically asthenozoospermia, where sperm lack the necessary movement to reach the egg (MDPI, 2024). Conversely, these functions are targeted for non-hormonal male contraception; for instance, sAC inhibitors like TDI-11861 and STK33 inhibitors like CDD-2807 have demonstrated reversible infertility in animal models (Science, 2024). Clinical applications also include the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors like pentoxifylline to enhance sperm motility during assisted reproductive procedures (NIH, 2024).

Other names

Sperm maturationSperm activationHyperactivationAcrosome reactionSperm capacitation

Pharmacological modulation involves the inhibition of sperm-specific proteins such as soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) and CatSper channels to prevent fertilization, or the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors to increase intracellular cAMP and enhance motility for infertility treatment (BenchChem, 2025; Science, 2024).