Spermatozoa navigation in complex environments

复杂环境下的精子导航

• 批准号: 2454125
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Warwick
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2454125
• 关键词: Spermatozoa; navigation; complex; environments

Overview:Artificial reproduction technologies have been utilized to overcome fertility problems. There are, however, many bottlenecks regarding the use and handling of many of these techniques specifically regarding sperm configuration and sorting before the IVF cycles (Samuel et al., 2018). Advancements in microfluidic technologies and biochemical assays allow for faster sperm selection based on motility and morphology. With the use of microscopy and live imaging, new techniques can be developed to assess and select candidate spermatozoa (Segerink et al., 2012). Furthermore, the incorporation of microfluidics allows for less sample handling mimicking a more natural selection environment, arguably improving the fertilization rates (Vaughan and Sakkas, 2019). Hypothesis and Aims:The objective of this project is to utilize microchannel based devices for sperm selection based on motility and other potential parameters such as morphology, chemotaxis, rheotaxis and thermotaxis. Furthermore, possible molecular variants within different spermatozoa and their biochemical behavior will be assessed to find the correlation of the selected gamete and their genetic profile.It is hypothesized that the spermatozoa are influenced by many factors both genetic and environmental. Many of these are bypassed by techniques that can potentially play a negative role in the future development. With the use of microfluidics there is the possibility on naturally selecting the best candidate spermatozoa without the use of density gradient or swim up which are selection techniques purely based on motility.The aim of this project is the development of microfluidic sperm sorting devices that can assist Artificial Reproductive Technologies giving higher fertilization rates while maintaining the integrity of the spermatozoa.

概述：人工生殖技术已被用来克服生育问题。然而，这些技术的使用和处理存在许多瓶颈，特别是在 IVF 周期之前的精子配置和分类方面（Samuel 等人，2018）。微流体技术和生化检测的进步可以根据活力和形态更快地选择精子。通过使用显微镜和实时成像，可以开发新技术来评估和选择候选精子（Segerink 等，2012）。此外，微流体的结合可以减少样本处理，模拟更自然的选择环境，可以说提高了受精率（Vaughan 和 Sakkas，2019）。假设和目标：该项目的目标是利用基于微通道的设备根据活力和其他潜在参数（例如形态、趋化性、流变性和趋热性）进行精子选择。此外，将评估不同精子内可能的分子变异及其生化行为，以发现所选配子与其遗传图谱的相关性。假设精子受到遗传和环境等许多因素的影响。其中许多都被可能对未来发展产生负面影响的技术所绕过。通过使用微流体，可以自然地选择最佳候选精子，而无需使用密度梯度或游动这些纯粹基于运动性的选择技术。该项目的目的是开发微流体精子分选装置，可以协助人工生殖技术提供更高的受精率，同时保持精子的完整性。