REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY A Sense of Direction

Odorant receptors can be found outside of the olfactory system, including the mammalian testis. Spehr et al. (see the Perspective by Babcock) identified and characterized a previously unknown odorant receptor, hOR17, in human sperm. They identify ligands and antagonists for hOR17 that affect the swimming speed and direction of human sperm. Because chemotactic responsiveness and fertility may be related, this work may contribute to research to understand infertility and develop contraceptives.

M. Spehr, G. Gisselmann, A. Poplawski, J. A. Riffell, C. H. Wetzel, R. K. Zimmer, H. Hatt, Identification of a testicular odorant receptor mediating human sperm chemotaxis. Science 299, 2054-2058 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

D. F. Babcock, Smelling the roses? Science 299, 1993-1994 (2003). [Summary] [Full Text]

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In Science Magazine

PERSPECTIVES
DEVELOPMENT:
Smelling the Roses?

Donner F. Babcock (28 March 2003)
Science 299 (5615), 1993. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1083059]
 |  Summary »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

REPORTS
Identification of a Testicular Odorant Receptor Mediating Human Sperm Chemotaxis

Marc Spehr, Günter Gisselmann, Alexandra Poplawski, Jeffrey A. Riffell, Christian H. Wetzel, Richard K. Zimmer, and Hanns Hatt (28 March 2003)
Science 299 (5615), 2054. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1080376]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »  |  Supporting Online Material »