Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-fqc5m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T08:41:51.701Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Preface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2009

Christopher J. De Jonge
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota
Christopher Barratt
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Get access

Summary

In the past decade greater emphasis has been placed on investigation of the human male gamete. As a consequence many unique and revealing characteristics have been identified; providing greater insight and understanding regarding human sperm production, maturation, and function. However, there has not been a comprehensive book on these topics published for more than 8 years. The focus of this book will be on the human and where data is lacking non-human animal species will be substituted to serve as representative example.

The composition of the spermatozoon, always regarded as critical for successful fertilization, has gained even greater significance in the events post-fertilization. The fidelity of the genome in its composition and construction are known to significantly influence fertilization, embryogenesis and live birth. Several contributions to this book elegantly detail the overt and more subtle characteristics of both the competent and dysfunctional sperm genome complex.

Historically, the spermatozoon has somewhat been viewed as a typical single cell; meaning that its membranes, organelles and metabolic activities are all connected. Emerging data clearly demonstrates the uniqueness of the spermatozoon in that discrete compartments can be identified whose physiology and biochemistry are separable. Several of the chapters herein offer intriguing revelations in this regard.

The yin and yang image that forms the central core of the micrograph on the front of this book serves as a symbolic reflection of the book's subtitle: production, maturation, fertilization, regeneration.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Sperm Cell
Production, Maturation, Fertilization, Regeneration
, pp. vii - viii
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×