Sarah Olson, Tulane University


CatSper Channel Mediated Ca2+ Dynamics in Mammalian Spermatozoa

Abstract: CatSpers are Calcium (Ca2+) channels that are located along the principal piece of mammalian sperm flagella and are directly linked to sperm motility. The goal of this work is to introduce a model of CatSper channel mediated Ca2+ dynamics in mammalian sperm that can be used to examine the effects of hypothesized mechanisms on the spatial and temporal evolution of Ca2+ along the flagellum. These mechanisms include diffusion and nonlinear fluxes that may depend on other signaling molecules. The long term goals of this project are to couple Ca2+ dynamics with integrative mechanical models of sperm motility within a viscous, incompressible fluid using an immersed boundary approach.

Mentor: Lisa Fauci (Tulane University)