The Catsper channel and its roles in male fertility: a systematic review

Abstract

The Catsper channel is a sperm-specific, Ca2+-permeable, pH-dependent, and low voltage-dependent channel that is essential for the hyperactivity of sperm flagellum, chemotaxis towards the egg, capacitation and acrosome reaction. All of these physiological events require calcium entry into sperm cells. Remarkably, Catsper genes are exclusively expressed in the testis during spermatogenesis, and are sensitive to ion channel-induced pH change, such as NHEs, Ca2+ATPase, K+ channel, Hv1 channel and HCO3 − transporters. Furthermore, the Catsper channel is regulated by some physiological stimulants, such as progesterone, cyclic nucleotides (e.g., cAMP, cGMP), zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins and bovine serum albumin (BSA). All of these factors normally stimulate Ca2+ entry into sperm through the Catsper channel. In addition, the Catsper channel may be a potential target for male infertility treatment or contraception. This review will focus on the structure, functions, regulation mechanisms and medicinal targets of the Catsper channel.

Asthenozoospermia: Cellular and molecular contributing factors and treatment strategies

“…CaTSper proteins are composed of a single repeat with six transmembrane-spanning containing a P-loop between S5 and S6 transmembrane domains, indicating homology to four repeat calcium channels (Sun et al, 2017). In male patients with low sperm motility, the complete absence of CaTSper protein occurs due to nonsensemediated decay or severely truncated CaTSper1 protein without any transmembrane domain and channel pore (Singh & Rajender, 2015;Sun et al, 2017). Sperm defects included low or no motility, low sperm count, abnormal morphology may be observed in the analysis of segregated insertion mutations in CaTSper protein (Avidan et al, 2003).…”

How signals of calcium ions initiate the beats of cilia and flagella

“…CatSper is a sperm specific Ca 2+ permeable, pH-sensitive and weakly voltage-dependent ion channel. It is located in the plasma membrane of the flagellar principal part (Sun et al (37)). Besides the presence of other ionic channels only the CatSper directly modulates the physiological processes of sperm hyper-activation, sperm capaciatation, chemotaxis toward the egg and the acrosome reaction.…”

Influence of antifertility agents Dutasteride and Nifedipine on CatSper gene level in epididymis during sperm maturation in BALB/c mice

“…Calcium signaling is critical for successful fertilization. Calcium channels play important roles in the process of fertilization and control sperm motility, chemotaxis toward the egg and the acrosome reaction (Chung et al 2011, reviewed by Ren et al 2010, Lishko & Kirichok 2010, Sun et al 2017. In spermatozoa, capacitation, hyperactivation of motility and the acrosome reaction are all mediated by increases in intracellular Ca 2+ through CatSper, which are expressed exclusively in spermatogenic cells in testis.…”

“…In spermatozoa, capacitation, hyperactivation of motility and the acrosome reaction are all mediated by increases in intracellular Ca 2+ through CatSper, which are expressed exclusively in spermatogenic cells in testis. These specifically traffic to membranes of the developing sperm flagellum and play important roles in sperm motility and male fertility (Ren et al 2001, reviewed by Navarro et al 2008, Sun et al 2017. CatSper is a heterotetrameric Ca 2+ channel required for the hyperactivated motility of spermatozoa and male fertility (Qi et al 2007, reviewed by Navarro et al 2008, Lishko et al 2012, Sun et al 2017.…”

“…These specifically traffic to membranes of the developing sperm flagellum and play important roles in sperm motility and male fertility (Ren et al 2001, reviewed by Navarro et al 2008, Sun et al 2017. CatSper is a heterotetrameric Ca 2+ channel required for the hyperactivated motility of spermatozoa and male fertility (Qi et al 2007, reviewed by Navarro et al 2008, Lishko et al 2012, Sun et al 2017. The CatSper channel complex contains four pore-forming α subunits (CatSper1-4) and five accessory subunits called β, δ, ε, γ and ζ (Chung et al 2017, reviewed by Navarro et al 2008, Sun et al 2017.…”