title: The physiology of bicarbonate transporters in mammalian reproduction.
abstract: HCO(3)(-) plays critically important roles during virtually the entire process of reproduction in mammals, including spermatogenesis, sperm capacitation, fertilization, and development of early stage embryos. Therefore, the acid-base balance in the male and female reproductive tracts must be finely modulated. The fluid milieu in the epididymis is acidic, containing very low concentration of HCO(3)(-). In this acidic low HCO(3)(-) environment, mature sperm are rendered quiescent in the epididymis. In contrast, the luminal fluid in the female uterus and oviduct is alkaline, with very high concentration of HCO(3)(-) that is essential for sperm to fulfill fertilization. HCO(3)(-) transporter of solute carrier 4 (SLC4) and SLC26 families represent the major carriers for HCO(3)(-) transport across the plasma membrane. These transporters play critical roles in intracellular pH regulation and transepithelial HCO(3)(-) transport. The physiological roles of these transporters in mammalian reproduction are of fundamental interest to investigators. Here we review recent progress in understanding the expression of HCO(3)(-) transporters in reproductive tract tissues as well as the physiological roles of these transporters in mammalian reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Deng-Ke
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D016623:Ion Pumps / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D001639:Bicarbonates; D007473:Ion Channels; D016623:Ion Pumps; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator