Cellular geometry controls the efficiency of motile sperm aggregates

Abstract

Teams of cooperating sperm have been found across several vertebrate and invertebrate species, ranging from sperm pairs to massive aggregates containing hundreds of cells. Although the biochemical mechanisms involved in the aggregation process are still unclear, it was found that aggregation can enhance the mobility of the cells, thus offering an advantage during fertilization. Here, we report a thorough computational investigation on the role of cellular geometry in the performance of sperm aggregates. The sperm head is modelled as a persistent random walker characterized by a non-trivial three-dimensional shape and equipped with an adhesive region, where cell-cell binding occurs. By considering both a simple parametric head shape and a computer reconstruction of a real head shape based on morphometric data, we demonstrate that the geometry of the head and the structure of the adhesive region crucially affects both the stability and mobility of the aggregates. Our analysis further suggests that the apical hook commonly found in the sperm of muroid rodents, might serve to shield portions of the adhesive region and promote efficient alignment of the velocities of the interacting cells.