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Sperm that live longer before fertilizing an egg produce healthier offspring – according to a new study from the University of East Anglia and the University of Uppsala in Sweden.
A new study published today shows that longer sperm sperm in ejaculation of a zebrafish produce offspring with a longer and healthier life expectancy – which at its turn produces a healthier and healthier offspring – that sperm of a shorter lifespan in the same ejaculate.
The findings could have important implications for human reproduction and fertility, particularly in the context of badisted fertilization technologies.
Dr. Simone Immler, senior researcher at the School of Biological Sciences at UEA, said: "A male produces thousands, even millions of sperm in a single ejaculate, but very little of it." between them end up fertilizing an egg.
"The spermatozoa contained in an ejaculate vary not only in their shape and performance, but also in the genetic material of each one of them.
"Until now, there was a general badumption that sperm fertilizing an egg does not matter as much as it can fertilize it.
"But we have shown that there are huge differences between sperm and its impact on offspring."
The research team performed in vitro fertilization by collecting gametes from both men and women. They then split the ejaculate of a man into two halves.
In one half, they selected for short-lived sperm and in the other for longer-lasting sperm. They then added sperm to two half-pits of a female to fertilize the eggs and raised the offspring to adulthood.
They then monitored their life span and reproductive capacity for two years.
Dr. Immler said, "We found that when we choose long-lived sperm in the ejaculate of the male zebrafish, the offspring obtained is much more fit than that of their complete siblings, spawned by shorter life of the same male.
"More specifically, children with longer-lasting spermatozoa produce more and healthier children throughout their lives, who age more slowly.
"It's a surprising result, which suggests that it's important to understand how sperm selection can contribute to the good shape of future generations."
Researchers are currently identifying the genes underlying their discoveries.
"This research has important implications for evolutionary biology and perhaps even beyond areas that use badisted fertilization technologies, for example in livestock rearing or IVF at home. Man, "added Dr. Immler.
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The research was funded by the European Research Council.
"The selection of long-lived sperm within the ejaculate reduces reproductive aging in offspring" is published in the journal Evolution Letters February 14, 2019.
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