Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea.
Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 28;23(7):3718. doi: 10.3390/ijms23073718.
Human spermatozoan ion channels are specifically distributed in the spermatozoan membrane, contribute to sperm motility, and are associated with male reproductive abnormalities. Calcium, potassium, protons, sodium, and chloride are the main ions that are regulated across this membrane, and their intracellular concentrations are crucial for sperm motility. Fatty acids (FAs) affect sperm quality parameters, reproductive pathologies, male fertility, and regulate ion channel functions in other cells. However, to date the literature is insufficient to draw any conclusions regarding the effects of FAs on human spermatozoan ion channels. Here, we aimed to discern the possible effects of FAs on spermatozoan ion channels and direct guidance for future research. After investigating the effects of FAs on characteristics related to human spermatozoan motility, reproductive pathologies, and the modulation of similar ion channels in other cells by FAs, we extrapolated polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) to have the highest potency in modulating sperm ion channels to increase sperm motility. Of the PUFAs, the ω-3 unsaturated fatty acids have the greatest effect. We speculate that saturated and monounsaturated FAs will have little to no effect on sperm ion channel activity, though the possible effects could be opposite to those of the PUFAs, considering the differences between FA structure and behavior.
人类精子离子通道特异性分布于精子膜上，对精子运动起作用，并与男性生殖异常有关。钙、钾、质子、钠和氯是跨膜调节的主要离子，其细胞内浓度对精子运动至关重要。脂肪酸（FAs）影响精子质量参数、生殖病理、男性生育能力，并调节其他细胞中的离子通道功能。然而，迄今为止，文献不足以得出关于 FAs 对人类精子离子通道影响的任何结论。在这里，我们旨在探讨 FAs 对精子离子通道的可能影响，并为未来的研究提供指导。在研究了 FAs 对与人类精子运动特性、生殖病理以及其他细胞中类似离子通道的调节相关的影响后，我们推断多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFAs）在调节精子离子通道以增加精子运动方面具有最高的效力。在 PUFAs 中，ω-3 不饱和脂肪酸的作用最大。我们推测饱和脂肪酸和单不饱和脂肪酸对精子离子通道活性几乎没有影响，但考虑到 FA 结构和行为的差异，其可能的影响可能与 PUFAs 相反。
