Understanding sperm motility regulation: it’s a long road ahead

Sperm motility is one of the most important markers of semen quality because it is essential for sperm to move properly through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize the egg. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms by which sperm acquire motility during their transit through the epididymis are not completely understood. A growing body of evidence suggests, however, that the morphological integrity of the sperm flagellum, the ability to produce energy to fuel flagellar movements, and the activation or inhibition of specific signaling pathways and protein posttranslational modifications represent key prerequisites for sperm to acquire motility.