CatSper in Male Infertility

摘要: In 2001, two groups independently reported different components of a novel Ca2+ channel named CatSper, which is expressed only in the testis and localized sperm flagellum. Now, we know that CatSper sperm-specific composed four distinct pore-forming subunits accompanied with, at least, three auxiliary subunits. Although there no heterologous expression system to study this channel, elimination any single subunit ever tried transgenic mice results male infertility, indicates each individual essential for correct assembly. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings directly taken from spermatozoa revealed moderately voltage-dependent activated by intracellular alkalinization several extracellular ligands, i.e., progesterone prostaglandin E human spermatozoa. The null exhibit defect hyperactivated flagellar motility, vigorous movement required fertilization under physiological conditions. agreement with this, are some families suffering infertility correlated mutations CatSper-related genes.