Calcium channels in the development, maturation, and function of spermatozoa.
A proper dialogue between spermatozoa and the egg is essential for conception of a new individual in sexually reproducing animals. Ca(2+) is crucial in orchestrating this unique event leading to a new life. No wonder that nature has devised different Ca(2+)-permeable channels and located them at distinct sites in spermatozoa so that they can help fertilize the egg. New tools to study sperm ionic currents, and image intracellular Ca(2+) with better spatial and temporal resolution even in swimming spermatozoa, are revealing how sperm ion channels participate in fertilization. This review critically examines the involvement of Ca(2+) channels in multiple signaling processes needed for spermatozoa to mature, travel towards the egg, and fertilize it. Remarkably, these tiny specialized cells can express exclusive channels like CatSper for Ca(2+) and SLO3 for K(+), which are attractive targets for contraception and for the discovery of novel signaling complexes. Learning more about fertilization is a matter of capital importance; societies face growing pressure to counteract rising male infertility rates, provide safe male gamete-based contraceptives, and preserve biodiversity through improved captive breeding and assisted conception initiatives.
Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. darszon@ibt.unam.mx
Alberto
A
Darszon
Takuya
T
Nishigaki
Carmen
C
Beltran
Claudia L
CL
Treviño
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels