In early April
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket
A batch of supplies was sent to the International Space Station.
Supply total weight more than 2 tons
Personnel supplies, research equipment and various hardware
Very normal
Which is more special
This time included 12 men’s frozen semen.
The 12 frozen semen comes from the sperm bank of California.
Of course, the identity of the donor is anonymous
These semen sent to space is certainly not a prank
Obviously for science
These semen will be used to conduct an experiment called Micro-11
The Simpsons designed a badge specifically for this experiment
The protagonist Simpson dressed in a space suit riding a bull-like “cockroach”
What is Micro-11’s project?
Two keywords
Sperm vitality
with
Sperm energy
Here I come to talk about serious knowledge
There are three indicators for sperm quality
Quantity
Malformation rate
Vitality
Number, that is, the density of sperm
Generally speaking, the higher the better
Malformation rate is the proportion of unhealthy sperm
Generally speaking, the lower the better
Vitality, talking about how many sperm are moving forward
Usually higher is better
Vitality is very important
Otherwise, even if swimming skills like Thorpe
You can’t win the championship
We are probably aware of things that affect sperm motility
For example, cigarette alcohol
For example, physiological diseases
But we are not quite sure
Effects of microgravity on sperm motility
After all, until this time SpaceX’s supply task
In addition to male astronaut “carry” sperm
No other human sperm was sent to space
Then I talk about how the sperm can get
Sperm Capacitation
According to Wikipedia’s explanation
The glycoprotein on the surface of sperm acrosome is degraded by alpha and beta amylase in the genital tract secretion, and the ratio of cholesterol to lecithin and membrane potential change in the acrosomal membrane structure, and the process of reducing acrosomal membrane stability
simply put
Is the process by which sperm acquire the ability to penetrate the zona pellucida
Only sperm that has undergone this process can complete fertilization
We are not quite sure if this process can be completed under microgravity
Scientists on the space station will thaw and activate semen samples
Then observe sperm motility and sperm penetration of the egg
At the same time, another group of scientists
The same observations will be made on the same sample on Earth
Although this is the first time that human semen has been tested in space
However, there have been previous experiments with bullfrogs and sea urchins.
You read it right, it really is the sea urchin
The result is
Sperm swim faster under microgravity
but
The sperm gain is very slow
Do not know what the results of the Micro-11 experiment will be
Of course, the solution to vitality and capacitation does not mean that we can produce fertility in space.
There are many things to study one item
For example, space radiation
There is an area near the Earth called the Van Allen radiation belt.
Van Allen Belts
Filled with a variety of high-energy particles
A previous study showed that the radiation of these high-energy particles
Affect the ovaries of mother rats
We all know that the ovarian follicular reserve is limited
Charged oxygen ions and iron ions from space radiation
Injury to follicular reserve
Space radiation not only affects women
Gamma radiation also affects sperm motility
It is also possible to become a Hulk
Of course, even if these difficulties are overcome, the pregnancy is completed.
Development of the fetus in a microgravity environment
Space delivery
and many more
These are tricky topics
There is still a long way for human beings to have children in space
However, if technical difficulties are overcome,
Will you try to become pregnant and have children in space?
