title: The role of trp ion channels in testicular function.
abstract: Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins are homologues of Drosophila transient receptor potential ion channels first identified in the photo receptors and reported to be involved in calcium entry following calcium store depletion during photo transduction. TRP is a large super family divided in several families including the TRPC (Canonical) family, the TRPV (Vanilloid) family, the TRPM (Melastatin) family, the TRPP (Polycystin) family, the TRPML (Mucolipin) family, the TRPA (Ankyrin) family, and the TRPN (NOMPC) family. TRP proteins are six transmembrane ion channels and act as components of multimeric complexes which allow cation entry either after internal calcium depletion or in response to receptor stimulation. TRP ion channels have been reported to act as molecular sensors of environment. Trp genes are expressed in a wide range of tissues including testis. In addition to this TRP proteins have also been detected in mature sperm from a number of species including humans. TRP may be involved in regulating calcium dependent functions of sperm including motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Here we review the available information about TRP proteins reported in the sperm, as well as in other cells/tissue systems.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Reproduction, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerela, India. kumarp@rgcb.res.in
authors.forename: Pradeep G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels