Yes, but only a very limited amount.
During the maturation process of sperm cells (spermatogenesis), most of the cytoplasm is lost. While some remnants may persist as a small cytoplasmic droplet near the neck of the sperm, this is usually shed during ejaculation. Therefore, mature sperm contain minimal cytoplasm compared to other cells.
What the Research Shows:
Several studies highlight this cytoplasmic reduction during sperm development. For instance, research on Drosophila sperm development indicates intercellular cytoplasm sharing through ring canals https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33033119/. This process is crucial for efficient development and the eventual reduction of cytoplasm in mature sperm. Other research emphasizes that the presence of cytoplasmic droplets, while sometimes occurring, is not necessarily indicative of poor sperm function https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deh555. The presence or absence of these droplets has been linked to specific genes, such as Spem1 in mice https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.0701669104.
The importance of cytoplasmic reduction in spermatogenesis is underscored by studies exploring the regulation of cytoplasmic components during sperm development, such as the role of TSKS in regulating cytoplasmic components in spermatids https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10242716/. This exemplifies the elaborate processes ensuring minimal cytoplasmic content in mature, functional sperm. Even the location of centrioles in the sperm neck highlights the significant restructuring that occurs, with the axoneme potentially being exposed to or formed within the cytoplasm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm. This highlights that even components essential for sperm motility are formed and organized within this minimized cytoplasm. Finally, the technique of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) demonstrates the practice of injecting sperm directly into the egg's cytoplasm https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22463-intracytoplasmic-sperm-injection, further confirming that while the amount is minimal, cytoplasm is present in the sperm.
In summary, while mature sperm contain very little cytoplasm, its presence is undeniable, playing a vital, albeit limited, role in sperm structure and function.
