News Worm sperm stimulate ovulation By Jessa Netting April 25, 2001 at 12:14 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print A protein that nematode sperm cells use for getting around also stimulates egg maturation and ovulation in the worms, according to a report in March 16 Science. Triggering ovulation with major sperm protein, or MSP, ensures that eggs aren’t released at a time when there’s no sperm around to fertilize them, explains coauthor David Greenstein of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.