title: A novel testis-specific Na+/H+ exchanger is involved in sperm motility and fertility.
abstract: Sodium-hydrogen exchanger as a channel for regulation of intracellular pH might be a crucial modulator of sperm capacitation and motility. Three members of this family have been identified in spermatozoa. A novel protein testis-specific sodium-hydrogen exchanger named mtsNHE was cloned in the present study. The mtsNHE localizing on principle piece of sperm flagellum contained 12 predicted transmembrane regions without cytoplasmic fragment at carboxyl terminus. Hydrophilic region was common in the sodium-hydrogen exchanger family members. Polyclonal antibodies to trans-membrane region significantly reduced sperm motility, acrosome reaction and ratio of in vitro fertilization. By in-pouring the antibodies in sperm solution, intracellular pH and calcium concentration were decreased. Muscle injection of female mice with the specific gene vaccine of mtsNHE, significantly stepped down fertility rate. Considering its specific expression and involvement in the regulation of fertility, the mtsNHE might be a potential target molecule for developing a new male contraceptive.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wu-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Cui-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue-Sen
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhao-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yi-Xun
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D002118:Calcium