Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Slo1 , Slo3

Title: Intracellular pH in sperm physiology.

Authors: Takuya Nishigaki, Omar José, Ana Laura González-Cota, Francisco Romero, Claudia L Treviño, Alberto Darszon

Journal, date & volume: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2014 Jun 2 , ,

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24887564

Abstract
Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is essential for cell function. Notably, several unique sperm ion transporters and enzymes whose elimination causes infertility are either pHi dependent or somehow related to pHi regulation. Amongst them are: CatSper, a Ca(2+) channel; Slo3, a K(+) channel; the sperm-specific Na(+)/H(+) exchanger and the soluble adenylyl cyclase. It is thus clear that pHi regulation is of the utmost importance for sperm physiology. This review briefly summarizes the key components involved in pHi regulation, their characteristics and participation in fundamental sperm functions such as motility, maturation and the acrosome reaction.