Transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels in human sperm: expression, cellular localization and involvement in the regulation of flagellar motility

FEBS Letters

Darszon, Alberto¹  Felix, Ricardo²  Pacheco, Judith³  Tsutsumi, Vı́ctor³  Castellano, Laura E¹  Rodrı́guez, Delany¹  Serrano, Carmen J¹  Treviño, Claudia L¹ 

[1] Department of Genetics of Development and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biotechnology, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico;Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Cinvestav-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico;Department of Experimental Pathology, Cinvestav-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico

关键词: Ca2+ channel;    Capacitative Ca2+ entry;    Transient receptor potential;    TRPC;    Store operated channel;    Sperm motility;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(03)00305-3

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Capacitative Ca²⁺ entry is a process whereby the activation of Ca²⁺ influx through the plasma membrane is triggered by depletion of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores. Some transient receptor potential (TRPC) proteins have been proposed as candidates for capacitative Ca²⁺ channels. Recent evidence indicates that capacitative Ca²⁺ entry participates in the sperm acrosome reaction (AR), an exocytotic process necessary for fertilization. In addition, several TRPCs have been detected heterogeneously distributed in mouse sperm, suggesting that they may participate in other functions such as motility. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, RNA messengers for TRPC1, 3, 6 and 7 were found in human spermatogenic cells. Confocal indirect immunofluorescence revealed the presence of TRPC1, 3, 4 and 6 differentially localized in the human sperm, and immunogold transmission electron microscopy indicated that TRPC epitopes are mostly associated to the surface of the cells. Because all of them were detected in the flagellum, TRPC channel antagonists were tested in sperm motility using a computer-assisted assay. Our results provide what is to our knowledge the first evidence that these channels may influence human sperm motility.

【 授权许可】

Unknown