The cation channel of sperm （CatSper） protein family plays important roles in male reproduction and infertility. The four members of this family are expressed exclusively in the testis and are localized differently ...The cation channel of sperm （CatSper） protein family plays important roles in male reproduction and infertility. The four members of this family are expressed exclusively in the testis and are localized differently in sperm. To investigate the effects of Panax ginseng treatment on the expression of CatSper genes and sperm hyperactivation in male mice, sperm motility and CatSper gene expression were assessed using a computer-assisted semen analysis system, a Fluoroskan Ascent microplate fluorometer to assess Ca2＊ influx, real.time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results suggested that the Ca2＊ levels of sperm cells treated with P. ginseng were increased significantly compared with the normal group. The P. ginseng-treated groups showed increased sperm motility parameters, such as the curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement. Taken together, the data suggest that CatSper messenger ribonucleic acid levels were increased significantly in mouse testes in the P. ginseng-treated group, as was the protein level, with the exception of CatSper2. In conclusion, P. ginseng plays an important role in improving sperm hyperactivation via CatSper gene expression.展开更多
Objective To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of human CatSper gene, themouse homologous gene product, which plays a crucial role in mouse male sterility.Methods We demonstrated a systematic screening o...Objective To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of human CatSper gene, themouse homologous gene product, which plays a crucial role in mouse male sterility.Methods We demonstrated a systematic screening of SNPs in coding regions and flankingintronic regions of human CatSper gene in a sample subset from a total 210 male individuals byDNA sequencing. Then we used PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analy-sis to determine the allele frequencies of the possible SNPs among the whole 210 Chinese Hanmale individuals.Results Three SNPs, including two novels, were identified and their allele frequencies weredetermined in the 210 Chinese Han male individuals. These SNPs were assembled into largeSNP database that promises to enable the dissection of the genetic basis of disease.展开更多
Beta-defensin 20(DEFB20)is widely expressed in the epididymis with gene features involved in epididymal sperm maturation.However,the action mechanism and function of DEFB20 in sperm maturation are still unclear.One of...Beta-defensin 20(DEFB20)is widely expressed in the epididymis with gene features involved in epididymal sperm maturation.However,the action mechanism and function of DEFB20 in sperm maturation are still unclear.One of the important roles of beta-defensin is the ion channel activity.The cation channel sperm-associated protein(CatSper)alpha is an ion channel protein found on the sperm surface.This study aimed to investigate the interaction between DEFB20 and CatSper1–4 protein in relation to the sperm maturation process.Protein sequences were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI).Protein modeling and validation were carried out by using the Robetta modeling server and the Ramachandran plot method.Rosetta web server was used for the docking analysis.The results revealed a natural interaction between DEFB20 and CatSper1–4.The interaction occurred at the cation channel(close to the casein kinase II),ion transport protein,and kinase c phosphorylation of the CatSper1–4 active site.The DEFB20 region interacting with CatSper2–4 was the beta-defensin domain,while with CatSper1 was the non-beta-defensin domain.Based on the analysis,DEFB20 may interact with CatSperαsubunits,particularly CatsSper1,to affect ion channel activity during sperm maturation.展开更多
Sperm respond to multiple chemical factors derived from the eggs and reorient their migratory direction–a process called chemotaxis.The chemotaxis of sperm in marine invertebrates has been established well.A couple o...Sperm respond to multiple chemical factors derived from the eggs and reorient their migratory direction–a process called chemotaxis.The chemotaxis of sperm in marine invertebrates has been established well.A couple of ion channels and enzymes are involved in the signal transduction pathway of sperm chemotaxis.In contrast,the mechanism of sperm chemotaxis in mammals is still rudimentary.Although much less is known about the chemotaxis of mammalian sperm,the feature of chemotaxis has been utilized to recruit sperm at the optimum functional state,which may improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technology.In this review,we summarize potent chemoattractants and molecular regulatory mechanism in marine invertebrates and mammals and discuss the application of chemotaxis in clinical treatment.展开更多
Interest in ion channels as drug targets for contraception has grown with the realization that certain ion channel subunits are located exclusively in sperm. Selective knockdown of ion channel subunits can lead to inf...Interest in ion channels as drug targets for contraception has grown with the realization that certain ion channel subunits are located exclusively in sperm. Selective knockdown of ion channel subunits can lead to infertility without ill effects, and selective inhibitors and/ or openers of these ion channels could interfere with sperm function. In this study, in vivo electmporation （EP） and rete testis microinjection-mediated plasmid DNA were adopted to silence CatSper2 expression, which is essential in sperm hyperactivation. The results showed that high transfection efficiency and expression were achieved by plasmid DNA that was directly injected into the rete testis. As a result of the expression of CatSper2 being blocked, the treatment group showed significantly lower （P〈0.05） hyperactivation rate, fertilization rate in vitro, migration motility in viscoelastic solution and intracellular Ca2＋ peak. The low hyperactivation and fertilization rates lasted for 60 days. Meanwhile, analysis of the sperm survival rate and testis histology indicated that in vivo EP had no significant effect on the function of the testis, spermatogenesis or sperm activity. The present study demonstrated that it was feasible to achieve male contraception by silencing the expression of CatSper2, the key protein involved in sperm hvoeractivation.展开更多
文摘The cation channel of sperm （CatSper） protein family plays important roles in male reproduction and infertility. The four members of this family are expressed exclusively in the testis and are localized differently in sperm. To investigate the effects of Panax ginseng treatment on the expression of CatSper genes and sperm hyperactivation in male mice, sperm motility and CatSper gene expression were assessed using a computer-assisted semen analysis system, a Fluoroskan Ascent microplate fluorometer to assess Ca2＊ influx, real.time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results suggested that the Ca2＊ levels of sperm cells treated with P. ginseng were increased significantly compared with the normal group. The P. ginseng-treated groups showed increased sperm motility parameters, such as the curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement. Taken together, the data suggest that CatSper messenger ribonucleic acid levels were increased significantly in mouse testes in the P. ginseng-treated group, as was the protein level, with the exception of CatSper2. In conclusion, P. ginseng plays an important role in improving sperm hyperactivation via CatSper gene expression.
文摘Objective To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of human CatSper gene, themouse homologous gene product, which plays a crucial role in mouse male sterility.Methods We demonstrated a systematic screening of SNPs in coding regions and flankingintronic regions of human CatSper gene in a sample subset from a total 210 male individuals byDNA sequencing. Then we used PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analy-sis to determine the allele frequencies of the possible SNPs among the whole 210 Chinese Hanmale individuals.Results Three SNPs, including two novels, were identified and their allele frequencies weredetermined in the 210 Chinese Han male individuals. These SNPs were assembled into largeSNP database that promises to enable the dissection of the genetic basis of disease.
文摘Beta-defensin 20(DEFB20)is widely expressed in the epididymis with gene features involved in epididymal sperm maturation.However,the action mechanism and function of DEFB20 in sperm maturation are still unclear.One of the important roles of beta-defensin is the ion channel activity.The cation channel sperm-associated protein(CatSper)alpha is an ion channel protein found on the sperm surface.This study aimed to investigate the interaction between DEFB20 and CatSper1–4 protein in relation to the sperm maturation process.Protein sequences were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI).Protein modeling and validation were carried out by using the Robetta modeling server and the Ramachandran plot method.Rosetta web server was used for the docking analysis.The results revealed a natural interaction between DEFB20 and CatSper1–4.The interaction occurred at the cation channel(close to the casein kinase II),ion transport protein,and kinase c phosphorylation of the CatSper1–4 active site.The DEFB20 region interacting with CatSper2–4 was the beta-defensin domain,while with CatSper1 was the non-beta-defensin domain.Based on the analysis,DEFB20 may interact with CatSperαsubunits,particularly CatsSper1,to affect ion channel activity during sperm maturation.
文摘Sperm respond to multiple chemical factors derived from the eggs and reorient their migratory direction–a process called chemotaxis.The chemotaxis of sperm in marine invertebrates has been established well.A couple of ion channels and enzymes are involved in the signal transduction pathway of sperm chemotaxis.In contrast,the mechanism of sperm chemotaxis in mammals is still rudimentary.Although much less is known about the chemotaxis of mammalian sperm,the feature of chemotaxis has been utilized to recruit sperm at the optimum functional state,which may improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technology.In this review,we summarize potent chemoattractants and molecular regulatory mechanism in marine invertebrates and mammals and discuss the application of chemotaxis in clinical treatment.
文摘Interest in ion channels as drug targets for contraception has grown with the realization that certain ion channel subunits are located exclusively in sperm. Selective knockdown of ion channel subunits can lead to infertility without ill effects, and selective inhibitors and/ or openers of these ion channels could interfere with sperm function. In this study, in vivo electmporation （EP） and rete testis microinjection-mediated plasmid DNA were adopted to silence CatSper2 expression, which is essential in sperm hyperactivation. The results showed that high transfection efficiency and expression were achieved by plasmid DNA that was directly injected into the rete testis. As a result of the expression of CatSper2 being blocked, the treatment group showed significantly lower （P〈0.05） hyperactivation rate, fertilization rate in vitro, migration motility in viscoelastic solution and intracellular Ca2＋ peak. The low hyperactivation and fertilization rates lasted for 60 days. Meanwhile, analysis of the sperm survival rate and testis histology indicated that in vivo EP had no significant effect on the function of the testis, spermatogenesis or sperm activity. The present study demonstrated that it was feasible to achieve male contraception by silencing the expression of CatSper2, the key protein involved in sperm hvoeractivation.
