Ke Sulun, Luo Tao
Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
Queen Mary School, Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2023 Aug 23;45(9):6995-7010. doi: 10.3390/cimb45090442.
After sperm enter the female reproductive tract, the physicochemical and biochemical microenvironment undergoes significant changes. In particular, the large changes in various ions encountered by sperm may alter the physiology of sperm, ultimately compromising capacitation and fertilization. Thus, the rapid response to environmental variations is vital for sperm functions. For example, Calcium, the most crucial ion for sperm functions, enters into sperm via Ca permeable ion channels. The cation channel of sperm (CatSper) is a sperm-specific, pH-sensitive, and Ca-permeable ion channel. It is responsible for the predominant Ca entry in mammalian sperm and is involved in nearly every event of sperm to acquire fertilizing capability. In addition, CatSper also serves as a pivotal polymodal chemosensor in mammalian sperm by responding to multiple chemical cues. Physiological chemicals (such as progesterone, prostaglandins, β-defensins, and odorants) provoke Ca entry into sperm by activating CatSper and thus triggering sperm functions. Additionally, synthetic and natural chemicals (such as medicines, endocrine disrupting chemicals, drugs of abuse, and antioxidants) affect sperm functions by regulating CatSper-dependent Ca signaling. Therefore, understanding the interactions between CatSper and extracellular ligands sheds light on the mechanisms underlying male infertility and offers innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches. This underscores the importance of CatSper as a crucial regulatory target in male reproduction, linking sperm function with the extracellular environment. In conclusion, this review comprehensively summarizes the relevant studies describing the environmental factors that affect CatSper in humans and rodents.
精子进入女性生殖道后，其物理化学和生化微环境会发生显著变化。特别是，精子所遇到的各种离子的大幅变化可能会改变精子的生理机能，最终损害获能和受精过程。因此，对环境变化的快速反应对精子功能至关重要。例如，钙是对精子功能最为关键的离子，它通过钙通透性离子通道进入精子。精子阳离子通道（CatSper）是一种精子特异性、pH敏感且钙通透性的离子通道。它负责哺乳动物精子中主要的钙内流，并参与精子获得受精能力的几乎每一个过程。此外，CatSper还通过对多种化学信号作出反应，在哺乳动物精子中充当关键的多模态化学传感器。生理化学物质（如孕酮、前列腺素、β-防御素和气味剂）通过激活CatSper引发钙进入精子，从而触发精子功能。此外，合成和天然化学物质（如药物、内分泌干扰化学物质、滥用药物和抗氧化剂）通过调节依赖CatSper的钙信号来影响精子功能。因此，了解CatSper与细胞外配体之间的相互作用有助于揭示男性不育的潜在机制，并提供创新的诊断和治疗方法。这突出了CatSper作为男性生殖中关键调节靶点的重要性，将精子功能与细胞外环境联系起来。总之，本综述全面总结了描述影响人类和啮齿动物中CatSper的环境因素的相关研究。
