Ca2+ signalling in the control of motility and guidance in mammalian sperm.
Ca2+ signalling in the sperm plays a key role in the regulation of events preceding fertilisation. Control of motility, including hyperactivation and chemotaxis, is particularly dependent upon [Ca2+]i signalling in the principal piece of the flagellum and the midpiece. Here we briefly review the processes that contribute to regulation of [Ca2+]i in mammalian sperm and then examine two areas: (i) the regulation of hyperactivation by [Ca2+]i and the pivotal roles played by CatSpers (sperm-specific, Ca2+-permeable membrane channels) and intracellular Ca2+ stores in this process and (ii) the elevation of [Ca2+]i and consequent modulation of motility caused by progesterone including the ability of progesterone at micromolar concentrations to cause sperm hyperactivation and/or accumulation and the recent discovery that progesterone, at picomolar concentrations, acts as a chemoattractant for mammalian sperm..
School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. s.j.publicover@bham.ac.uk
Stephen John
SJ
Publicover
Laura Cecilia
LC
Giojalas
Maria Eugenia
ME
Teves
Gisela Sofia Mendes Machado
GS
de Oliveira
Aduen Andres Morales
AA
Garcia
Christopher Lowther Robert
CL
Barratt
Claire Victoria
CV
Harper
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic; D011374:Progesterone; D002118:Calcium