STUDY QUESTION Is the environmental endocrine disruptor p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) able to induce non-genomic changes in human sperm and consequently affect functional sperm parameters? SUMMARY ANSWER p,p'-DDE promoted Ca(2+) flux into human sperm by activating CatSper channels even at doses found in human reproductive fluids, ultimately compromising sperm parameters imp...

The Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra) has recovered from near extinction over more than eight decades. While their numbers have increased, populations remain isolated with low genetic diversity. With 75 new being founded and 4800 extant animals, conservation management strategies are implemented to mitigate risk of losses in diversity reproductive fitness. One objective is identify characterist...

Channel activities, particularly those of calcium channels, have vital roles in the process of sperm maturation, motility and sperm-egg interaction. A group of the recently discovered ion channels associated with these processes is four novel channel-like proteins known as CatSper (cation channel sperm) gene family. CatSper1 and CatSper2 show sperm specific expression patterns. However, neither...

CatSper family proteins are putative ion channels expressed exclusively in membranes of the sperm flagellum and required for male fertility. Here, we show that mouse CatSper1 is essential for depolarization-evoked Ca2+ entry and for hyperactivated movement, a key flagellar function. CatSper1 is not needed for other developmental landmarks, including regional distributions of CaV1.2, CaV2.2, and...

Mammalian sperm must hyperactivate in order to fertilize oocytes. Hyperactivation is characterized by highly asymmetrical flagellar bending. It serves to move sperm out of the oviductal reservoir and to penetrate viscoelastic fluids, such as the cumulus matrix. It is absolutely required for sperm penetration of the oocyte zona pellucida. In order for sperm to hyperactivate, cytoplasmic Ca level...

channel activities, particularly those of calcium channels, have vital roles in the process of sperm maturation, motility and sperm-egg interaction. a group of the recently discovered ion channels associated with these processes is four novel channel-like proteins known as catsper (cation channel sperm) gene family. catsper1 and catsper2 show sperm specific expression patterns. however, neither...

Calcium signaling is one of the most extensively employed signal transduction mechanisms in life. As life evolved into increasingly complex organisms, Ca acquired more extensive and varied functions. Here, we compare genes encoding proteins that govern Ca entry and exit across cells or organelles within organisms of early eukaryotic evolution into fungi, plants, and animals. Recent phylogenomic...

Objective To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of human CatSper gene, the mouse homologous gene product, which plays a crucial role in mouse male sterility. Methods We demonstrated a systematic screening of SNPs in coding regions and flanking intronic regions of human CatSper gene in a sample subset from a total 210 male individuals by DNA sequencing. Then we used PCR single-stran...

Mature mammalian spermatozoa are quiescent in the male reproductive tract. Upon ejaculation and during their transit through the female reproductive tract, they undergo changes that enable them to fertilize the egg. During this process of capacitation, they acquire progressive motility, develop hyperactivated motility, and are readied for the acrosome reaction. All of these processes are regula...