Ca(v)2.3 (alpha1E) Ca2+ channel participates in the control of sperm function.

Yu Sakata, Hironao Saegusa, Shuqin Zong, Makoto Osanai, Takayuki Murakoshi, Yasufumi Shimizu, Tetsuo Noda, Takeshi Aso, Tsutomu Tanabe

Department of Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8519, Tokyo, Japan.

FEBS letters 2002 Apr 10

filter terms:

To know the function of the Ca2+ channel containing alpha(1)2.3 (alpha1E) subunit (Ca(v)2.3 channel) in spermatozoa, we analyzed Ca2+ transients and sperm motility using a mouse strain lacking Ca(v)2.3 channel. The averaged rising rates of Ca2+ transients induced by alpha-D-mannose-bovine serum albumin in the head region of Ca(v)2.3-/- sperm were significantly lower than those of Ca(v)2.3+/+ sperm. A computer-assisted sperm motility assay revealed that straight-line velocity and linearity were greater in Ca(v)2.3-/- sperm than those in Ca(v)2.3+/+ sperm. These results suggest that the Ca(v)2.3 channel plays some roles in Ca2+ transients and the control of flagellar movement.

Citation

Yu Sakata, Hironao Saegusa, Shuqin Zong, Makoto Osanai, Takayuki Murakoshi, Yasufumi Shimizu, Tetsuo Noda, Takeshi Aso, Tsutomu Tanabe. Ca(v)2.3 (alpha1E) Ca2+ channel participates in the control of sperm function. FEBS letters. 2002 Apr 10;516(1-3):229-33