Science / Medicine : Sperm May Have Sense of Smell

Sperm may have the equivalent of a sense of smell, European researchers reported last week in the British journal Nature. The newly discovered capability may help the sperm find their way to an egg that is to be fertilized, and the discovery may lead to the development of new birth control techniques, the researchers said.

The researchers found that the membranes of human sperm apparently contain proteins, called receptors, that are virtually identical to a family of receptors located in the nasal passages of rats. In the latter case, these proteins are thought to bind to odoriferous molecules in the air, initiating a sequence of events that tells the brain the odor is present.

The researchers speculated that the newly identified receptors on sperm may allow them to home in on chemicals released by eggs, making it easier for the sperm to locate them.