Science Faction / Masterfile
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Illustration of sperm reaching the egg.
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Nationalgeographic.co.id—To fertilize 1 egg, it takes at least 200 million cells sperm. The explanation that is known so far is because the sperm will later face ‘bombing’ by the immune system. Few of them will remain, not many will survive and succeed fertilize the egg single and become a fetus.
However, until now the real reason why there should be 200 million sperm to be able to fertilize an egg is not really understood. Like for example what makes the sperm that fertilizes the egg can survive mass destruction in the uterine wall.
Now scientists from the University of California seem to have found the answer. Molecular anthropologist Pascal Gagneux has revealed that there is a kind of “secret handshake” between sperm and the cells lining the uterine wall.
The findings have been reported in Journal of Biological Chemistry by title “The female reproductive tract contains multiple innate sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) that facilitate sperm survival” which can be accessed online and freely accessible.
Gagneux says it takes a lot of sperm for some to survive. On the other hand, there may be a benefit to the extermination of so many sperm.
“That all life is one big compromise. Too easy to fertilize is bad, too hard to fertilize is also bad,” Gagneux was quoted as saying by eurekalert.
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Illustration of sperm cells passing through the uterus.
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Gagneux explains, there is a receptor that can recognize molecules glycan that coats the sperm. It is possible that this interaction could adjust a woman’s immune response and help sperm make it through leukocyte reaction. However, leukocyte reactions are not well understood.
He explained that after passing through the cervix, the millions of sperm that arrived in the uterus were confronted with a barrage of macrophages and neutrophils. The blockage is an attack by the woman’s immune system that can kill most sperm cells and leave only a few hundred left in the fallopian tubes.
“What we do know, Gagneux explains, is that “after crossing the cervix, the millions of sperm from the US population that arrive in the uterus are exposed to a barrage of macrophages and neutrophils,” Gagneux said.
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