title: Sperm-specific ion channels: targets holding the most potential for male contraceptives in development.
abstract: There is a global need for an ideal method of male contraception. However, the development of male contraceptives has not been well successful. Research on sperm-specific ion channels, especially the recent advance obtained from electrophysiological studies, has emphasized the conception that those channels are targets with the most potential to develop non-hormonal male contraceptives. While summarizing the general options for male contraception, this review focuses on the properties and functions of sperm ion channels together with the attempts of utilizing these channels to develop male contraceptives. We believe that a deeper insight into the signaling and molecular mechanisms by which ion channels regulate sperm functions will pave the way for developing novel male-based contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China. Electronic address: zhengliping@ncu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hua-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bao-Ming
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000075369:Anoctamin-1; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D065101:Chloride Channel Agonists; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C476213:ANO1 protein, human; D000075369:Anoctamin-1; C438823:CATSPER1 protein, human; C522631:CATSPERB protein, human; D015220:Calcium Channels; D065101:Chloride Channel Agonists; D018118:Chloride Channels; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; C510235:HVCN1 protein, human; D007473:Ion Channels; C577767:KCNU1 protein, human; C573834:LRRC52 protein, human; D051037:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D021122:Protein Subunits
keywords: CatSper; Ion channel; Male contraceptives; Slo3; Sperm