---
title: "Optogenetics makes sterile mice fertile again"
description: "Scientists have succeeded for the first time in controlling the function of sperm by optogenetics."
date: "2015-01-20"
modified: "2015-09-24"
authors:
  - name: "Matthew Lincoln"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/justmatt"
url: "https://futurism.com/optogenetics-makes-sterile-mice-fertile-again"
categories:
  - "Genetics"
  - "Health & Medicine"
---

# Optogenetics makes sterile mice fertile again

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- They inserted a light-activated enzyme for cAMP synthesis into mouse sperm that lacked the endogenous enzyme. Sperm of these mice are usually non-motile, and the mice consequently infertile. After stimulation of these sperm with blue light, they produce cAMP, start to swim again, and are even able to fertilise eggs.
- Fertilisation of egg cells is closely linked with cAMP synthesis. Sperm lacking the endogenous adenylate cyclase enzyme are unable to swim: the mice are infertile. However, if the bPAC sperm are stimulated with blue light, the cAMP concentration increases and the sperm swim faster, because the sperm tail beats faster.
- This proves that it is possible to control something as fundamental as fertilisation with light. Optogenetics has thus conquered another field outside the neurosciences.