Sperm hyperactivation and the CatSper channel: current understanding and future contribution of domestic animals.

In female tract, mammalian sperm develop hyperactivated motility which is a key physiological event for sperm to fertilize eggs. This motility change is triggered by Ca influx via the sperm-specific Ca channel, CatSper. Although previous studies in human and mice largely contributed to understanding CatSper and Ca signaling for sperm hyperactivation, the differences on their activation mechanisms are not well understood yet. There are several studies to examine expression and significance of the CatSper channel in non-human and non-mouse models, such as domestic animals. In this review, I summarize key knowledge for the CatSper channel from previous studies and propose future aspects for CatSper study using sperm from domestic animals.