Centrioles are eukaryotic subcellular structures that produce and regulate massive subcellular cytoskeleton superstructures. They form centrosomes and cilia, regulate new centriole formation, secure cilia to the cell, and regulate cilia function. These basic centriolar functions are executed in sperm cells during their amplification from spermatogonial stem cells during their differentiation to spermatozoa, and finally, after fertilization, when the sperm fuses with the egg. However, sperm centrioles exhibit many unique characteristics not commonly observed in other cell types, including structural remodeling, centriole-flagellum transition zone migration, and cell membrane association during meiosis. Here, we discuss five roles of sperm centrioles: orchestrating early spermatogenic cell divisions, forming the spermatozoon flagella, linking the spermatozoon head and tail, controlling sperm tail beating, and organizing the cytoskeleton of the zygote post-fertilization. We present the historic discovery of the centriole as a sperm factor that initiates embryogenesis, and recent genetic studies in humans and other mammals evaluating the current evidence for the five functions of sperm centrioles. We also examine information connecting the various sperm centriole functions to distinct clinical phenotypes. The emerging picture is that centrioles are essential sperm components with remarkable functional diversity and specialization that will require extensive and in-depth future studies.

中心粒是真核亚细胞结构，产生和调节大量亚细胞细胞骨架上层结构。它们形成中心体和纤毛，调节新中心粒的形成，将纤毛固定在细胞上，并调节纤毛功能。这些基本的中心粒功能是在精子细胞从精原干细胞分化为精子的过程中执行的，最后在受精后精子与卵子融合时执行的。然而，精子中心粒表现出许多在其他细胞类型中不常见的独特特征，包括结构重塑、中心粒-鞭毛过渡区迁移和减数分裂期间的细胞膜关联。在这里，我们讨论精子中心粒的五个作用：协调早期生精细胞分裂、形成精子鞭毛、连接精子头部和尾部、控制精子尾部跳动以及组织受精后受精卵的细胞骨架。我们介绍了中心粒作为启动胚胎发生的精子因子的历史性发现，以及最近对人类和其他哺乳动物的遗传学研究，评估了精子中心粒五种功能的当前证据。我们还检查了将各种精子中心粒功能与不同临床表型联系起来的信息。目前的情况是，中心粒是精子的重要组成部分，具有显着的功能多样性和专业化，需要未来进行广泛和深入的研究。