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Hydrodynamic clustering of human sperm in viscoelastic fluids

Abstract:
We have numerically investigated sperm clustering behaviours, modelling cells as superpositions of regularised flow singularities, coarse-grained from experimentally obtained digital microscopy of human sperm, both in watery medium and a highly viscous– weakly elastic, methylcellulose medium. We find that the cell yaw and cell pulling dynamics inhibit clustering in low viscosity media. In contrast clustering is readily visible in simulations modelling sperm within a methylcellulose medium, in line with previous observations that bovine sperm clustering is much more prominent in a rheological polyacrylamide medium. Furthermore, the fine-scale details of sperm flagellar movement substantially impact large-scale collective behaviours, further motivating the need for the digital microscopy and characterization of sperm to understand their dynamics.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41598-018-33584-8

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS Division
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Mathematical Institute
Oxford college:
Brasenose College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6888-4362


More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Ishimoto, K
Grant:
Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers
More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Ishimoto, K
Grant:
Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers
More from this funder
Funding agency for:
Ishimoto, K
Grant:
Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Scientific Reports More from this journal
Volume:
8
Article number:
15600
Publication date:
2018-10-22
Acceptance date:
2018-10-02
DOI:
EISSN:
2045-2322


Pubs id:
pubs:923190
UUID:
uuid:a2646800-b7ff-4ab0-b511-e9417e56395d
Local pid:
pubs:923190
Source identifiers:
923190
Deposit date:
2018-10-02

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