Abstract
This chapter examines the novel structural features of the mammalian spermatozoon, its composition and assembly, and the mechanisms regulating its function. The spermatozoon is a highly specialized cell with unique structural features and functional characteristics required to deliver the male genome to the egg. The head of a spermatozoon contains a highly condensed nucleus, an enzyme-filled acrosome, and a small amount of cytoplasm. The flagellum is a highly novel feature that provides the spermatozoon with the ability to propel itself through liquid medium. New findings about genes that are expressed only in spermatids and encode novel proteins unique to spermatozoa are reviewed in this chapter. The gene knockout approach has identified many proteins required for normal sperm functions in mice that are likely to be required in humans as well. However, many critical questions remain to be answered about the composition, organization, and function of spermatozoa.
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