WOMEN’S CERVICAL

MUCUS PREFERS
SOME SPERM OVER
OTHERS
In human male-female pairs with a less similar suite of genes for
human leukocyte antigens, sperm fare better when exposed to
cervical mucus.

THE PROBLEM HLA IN HUMANS

Researchers found that sperm function
better in cervical mucus from women
with less similar sequences for the
genes that encode the human leukocyte
antigen (HLA) system, a group of cell-
surface proteins that the immune
In people, previous work has shown that
men and women prefer body odor from
individuals with less similar HLA sequences
—a kind of pre-mating sexual selection.
Researchers have also determined that
HLAs may be present on the surface of

system uses to differentiate self from sperm and that soluble HLAs are found in
cervical mucus, the fluid released by glands
non-self. With more-similar genotypes,
in the cervix, raising the possibility that a
sperm were less likely to survive
well-matched egg and sperm could be a
exposure to cervical mucus.
factor in humans.

THE AFTER THE

EXPERIMENT
EXPERIMENT
The researches uncovered a similar
The researchers also genotyped each
association between the genes for the HLA
subject’s HLA sequences. Then they created
system and sperm mortality in follicular
all possible one-to-one combinations of
fluid, which surrounds an unfertilized human
diluted cervical mucus and sperm and
oocyte. They’re currently confirming whether
observed how the sperm fared. Sperm were
or not HLAs are present on the surface of
more likely to survive in male-female
sperm cells and investigating their gene
combinations that shared fewer genetic
expression to determine what other genes
similarities, indicating that immunological
might be involved in post-copulatory sexual
compatibility may affect fertility.
selection.