An Integrative Model of Hyperactivated Sperm Motility

Calcium (Ca2+) dynamics in mammalian sperm are directly linked to motility. These dynamics depend on diffusion, nonlinear fluxes, Ca2+ channels specific to the sperm flagellum, and other signaling molecules. The goal of this work is to couple Ca2+ dynamics to a mechanical model of a motile sperm within a viscous, incompressible fluid. An immersed boundary formulation of regularized Stokeslets is used to investigate the hydrodynamics and emergent waveforms and velocities. We will present recent progress on elements of this integrative model.