International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 3 authors, 3 centres
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This narrative review examines the composition, function, and species variation of the sperm calcium channel CatSper. The central finding is that CatSper plays a conserved, essential role in sperm pre-fertilization events (capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction) despite notable differences in its molecular structure and membrane localization across mammalian species.
This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the CatSper calcium channel in sperm. Methods involve summarizing existing literature on its composition, activation mechanisms (e.g., by intracellular alkalinization and progesterone), and localization across species. The central result is that CatSper is essential for male fertility, as its absence leads to infertility due to impaired capacitation, hyperactivation, and acrosome reaction. The review highlights significant inter-species variations in channel structure and membrane localization, which may relate to differences in sperm sources and examination methods. The implications are that CatSper is a potential target for diagnosing sub-fertility in livestock and for developing ethical fertility control in pest species, but caution is needed due to species-specific differences.
