What does a common channel for electrolytes and non-electrolytes in the sperm mean?
Cell volume is central to osmoregulation in intact cells. Bovine spermatozoa, as also other mammalian spermatozoa, exhibit a very rapid regulatory volume decrease (RVD) when exposed to hypotonic saline media. This response, fastest known in animal cells, is mediated by a putative potassium channel which the pharmacological properties of a conventional channel and yet admits both electrolytes and non-electrolytes. The evolutionary basis and functional role of this conserved quinine-sensitive channel in mammalian sperm could offer hitherto unexplored facets of the link(s) between ecology and reproduction.
Sitaramam
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Department of Biotechnology, University of Pune, Pune, 411 007, India. sitaram@unipune.ernet.in
Sauna
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D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002417:Cattle; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007798:Lampreys; D008297:Male; D009673:Notophthalmus viridescens; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D012487:Salmonidae; D012617:Sea Urchins; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012756:Sheep; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D015221:Potassium Channels