Scientists have discovered that exposing sperm to ultrasound increases their motility, or ability to move.
A research team has discovered that exposing human sperm to ultrasound can make them swim faster. They exposed human semen samples to ultrasound and measured changes in “sperm motility.”
Past research has shown that reduced sperm motility can make it difficult for men to impregnate women. There are drugs being used to speed up sperm, but this can cause problems such as damaging the sperm’s DNA, according to Monash University, where the engineers conducted the research. Fertility doctors get around this problem by collecting sperm from a donor and injecting it directly into the uterus.
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Researchers at Monash University collected 50 samples of semen from both men with normal sperm motility and men with sperm motility problems. The sperm cells were then isolated and exposed to 800 megawatts of ultrasound for 20 seconds. Samples were examined both before and after exposure to ultrasound.
This exposure resulted in a dramatic increase in motility, by as much as 266% in one particular case. They also discovered that even sperm that was not moving at all could be shocked by ultrasound.
The researchers propose that the sperm cells move faster because the energy from the ultrasound replaces the mitochondrial energy deficit in the sperm cells. But the researchers acknowledge that more research is needed to ensure the waves don’t even damage the female’s sperm cells or reproductive cells.
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Date first uploaded: February 16, 2024 14:43 IST