Ion channel gene expressions in infertile men: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Infertility is described as not receiving pregnancy despite unprotected and regular sexual intercourse in a 1 yr period. It is detected by 15% of the couples. Male and female factor in the etiology may be detected in similar rates. Objective: The present study aims to investigate ion channel gene expression in semen samples of infertile male compared with fertile men. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 men who applied to the urology clinic due to infertility were divided into five equal groups: asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and normozoospermia (control). All paticipants were evaluated with Cation Channel Spermia (CatSper) 1, 2, 3, 4, Proton Voltage Gated Ion Channel1 (Hv1), Potassium Channel Subfamily U1 (KCNU1), and transmembrane protein (TMEM16A) gene expression in semen samples. Results: "CatSper1, 4, HV1, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression were detected higher in the oligozoospermia group compared to the controls. CatSper1, 2, 3, 4, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression in the asthenozoospermia group and CatSper1, 2, 3, 4, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression in the teratozoospermia group were detected lower compared to the controls. CatSper1, 4, HV1, and TMEM16A gen expression were higher in the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia men than the controls while CatSper3 gen expression was detected as lower." Conclusion: It was detected that these ion channels have an effect on sperm progressive motility and morphology. It may be considered that mutations in these ion channels may result in infertility.

Further Insights on RNA Expression and Sperm Motility

“…High expression levels of CATSPER3 mRNA have been observed in high-motile human spermatozoa, when compared to low-motile spermatozoa [ 31 ]. Further, CATSPER3 gene expression was observed to be decreased in spermatozoa from patients with AZ and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), a condition that includes oligozoospermia (low number of sperm), AZ and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm shape) [ 32 ]. For this gene, our results corroborate these previous findings.…”

Detection of selection signatures for response to Aleutian mink disease virus infection in American mink

“…It was shown that this gene is essential for sperm motility as well as the preparation of sperm for fertilization 80 . Similarly, the CATSPER4 gene (scaffold10: 17.41–17.42 Mb, survival group) is related with the male infertility 81 . The IGF2R gene was identified on scaffold5: 22.64–22.74 Mb in virus clearance group and it seems that the expression of this gene plays critical roles in pre-implantation of embryos 82 and birth weight 83 .…”

A Review on the Role of Bicarbonate and Proton Transporters during Sperm Capacitation in Mammals

“…It has been suggested that in sperm cells, HVCN1 channels export H + more quickly and efficiently than other transporters or exchangers do [ 133 ]. In humans, HVCN1 monomers appear as a 32–35 kDa band in immunoblotting assays and are located in the principal piece of the sperm flagellum, close to CatSper [ 5 , 159 , 160 ]. In cattle, HVCN1 forms a band of around 32 kDa and distributes throughout the principal and terminal pieces of the sperm flagellum [ 22 ], whereas in pigs the molecular weight of each subunit is 35 kDa [ 3 , 137 ].…”

“…The biochemical and biophysical changes associated with sperm capacitation have been extensively reported, and they include changes in ion concentration and internal pH (pH i ), plasma membrane properties, motion features, cell metabolism, and protein phosphorylation patterns [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. It is widely accepted that ion flux is essential for sperm capacitation, and that small disturbances in the activity of ion channels may result in impaired fertility [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The most relevant ions inducing sperm capacitation are bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) and calcium (Ca 2+ ), which act as second messengers triggering both sperm hypermotility and acrosomal reaction [ 1 , 9 ].…”