Human eggs prefer some men青瓜视频檚 sperm over others, research shows
Human eggs use chemical signals to attract sperm. New research from Stockholm University, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester shows that eggs use these chemical signals to 青瓜视频渃hoose青瓜视频� sperm. Different women青瓜视频檚 eggs attract different men青瓜视频檚 sperm 青瓜视频� and not necessarily their partners.
Humans spend a lot of time and energy choosing their partner. A new study by researchers from Stockholm University and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) shows that choosing your partner continues even after sex 青瓜视频� human eggs can 青瓜视频渃hoose青瓜视频� sperm.
青瓜视频淗uman eggs release chemicals called chemoattractants that attract sperm to unfertilised eggs. We wanted to know if eggs use these chemical signals to pick which sperm they attract,青瓜视频� said John Fitzpatrick, an Associate Professor at Stockholm University.
The researchers examined how sperm respond to follicular fluid, which surrounds eggs and contains sperm chemoattractants. The researchers wanted to find out if follicular fluids from different females attracted sperm from some males more than others.
Microscopic mate choice
青瓜视频淔ollicular fluid from one female was better at attracting sperm from one male, while follicular fluid from another female was better at attracting sperm from a different male,青瓜视频� said Professor Fitzpatrick.
青瓜视频淭his shows that interactions between human eggs and sperm depend on the specific identity of the women and men involved.青瓜视频�
The idea that eggs are choosing sperm is really novel in human fertility
The egg does not always agree with the women青瓜视频檚 choice of partner. The researchers found that eggs did not always attract more sperm from their partner compared to sperm from another male.
Is this egg or sperm choice? Professor Fitzpatrick explained that sperm have only one job 青瓜视频� to fertilise eggs 青瓜视频� so it doesn青瓜视频檛 make sense for them to be choosy. Eggs on the other hand can benefit by picking high quality or genetically compatible sperm.
青瓜视频淭he idea that eggs are choosing sperm is really novel in human fertility,青瓜视频� said , the Scientific Director of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Saint Marys青瓜视频� Hospital, which is part of MFT, and the senior author of this study.
The University of Manchester Honorary Professor added: 青瓜视频淩esearch on the way eggs and sperm interact will advance fertility treatments and may eventually help us understand some of the currently 青瓜视频榰nexplained青瓜视频� causes of infertility in couples.
青瓜视频淚青瓜视频檇 like to thank every person who took part in this study and contributed to these findings, which may benefit couples struggling with infertility in future.青瓜视频�
The article Chemical signals from eggs facilitate cryptic female choice in humans is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.