We report that the Gm7068 (CatSpere) and Tex40 (CatSperz) genes encode novel subunits of a 9-subunit CatSper ion channel complex. Targeted disruption of CatSperz reduces CatSper current and sperm rheotactic efficiency in mice, resulting in severe male subfertility. Normally distributed in linear quadrilateral nanodomains along the flagellum, the complex lacking CatSperζ is disrupted at ~0.8 μm ...

CatSper channels (CatSper1–4) are named after the first putative cation channel of sperm (Quill et al., 2001; Ren et al., 2001). CatSpers are putative six-transmembrane (6TM) voltage-gated Ca -permeant channels and seem to be specific to sperm cells. CatSper1 and 2 are each essential for the hyperactivation of sperm cell motility, which is required for fertility. Sequence identities among these...

Ca2+i signalling is pivotal to sperm function. Progesterone, the best-characterized agonist of human sperm Ca2+i signalling, stimulates a biphasic [Ca2+]i rise, comprising a transient and subsequent sustained phase. In accordance with recent reports that progesterone directly activates CatSper, the [Ca2+]i transient was detectable in the anterior flagellum (where CatSper is expressed) 1-2 s bef...

STUDY QUESTION Does progesterone in human follicular fluid (hFF) activate CatSper and do other components of hFF modulate this effect and/or contribute separately to hFF-induced Ca2+ signaling? SUMMARY ANSWER hFF potently stimulates CatSper and increases [Ca2+]i, primarily due to high concentrations of progesterone, however, other components of hFF also contribute to [Ca2+]i signaling, includ...

BACKGROUND Catsper proteins are responsible for entering Ca(2+) to the cell and play an important role in sperm motility and male fertility. Antioxidants are vital for sperm motility too. Escanbil (Calligonum) extract possess some of the important antioxidant like Catechin and Quercetin. OBJECTIVE Here we investigated the effects of Escanbil (Calligonum) extract on the sperm parameters and th...

objective: catsper is a voltage-sensitive calcium channel that is specifically expressed in the testis and it has a significant role in sperm performance. catsper (1-4) ion channel subunit genes, causes sperm cell hyperactivation and male fertility. in this study, we have explored targeting of the extracellular loop as an approach for the generation of antibodies with the potential ability to b...

Following entry into the female reproductive tract, mammalian sperm undergo a maturation process termed capacitation that results in competence to fertilize ova. Associated with capacitation is an increase in membrane conductance to both Ca(2+) and K(+), leading to an elevation in cytosolic Ca(2+) critical for activation of hyperactivated swimming motility. In mice, the Ca(2+) conductance (alka...

Sperm acquire the ability to fertilize in a process called capacitation and undergo hyperactivation, change motility pattern, which depends on Ca2+ transport by CatSper channels. is essential for fertilization it subjected complex regulation that not fully understood. Here, we report similar CatSper, Cdc42 distribution principal piece confined four linear domains this localization disrupted Cat...

background: catsper genes are a novel family of four sperm-specific calcium channels, which indicate testis-specific expression patterns. despite the crucial role of catsper genes in the male reproduction, very little is known about the factors that regulate their expression. objective: the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin e treatment on the expression of catspe...

STUDY QUESTION Does CatSper have a role in the achievement of human sperm motility and in the Progesterone (P)-induced acrosome reaction (AR)? SUMMARY ANSWER CatSper1 expression is associated with human sperm progressive motility and the P-induced AR; it may have a role in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Knockout mice for any of the Catsper family genes fail to ...