Ion channels and transporters involved in calcium flux regulation in mammalian sperm

Abstract

After ejaculation, mammalian spermatozoa are not capable of fertilizing a metaphase II-arrested egg. They require to undergo a series of biochemical and physiological processescollectively known as capacitation. In all these processes, the regulation of calcium ionsfluxes plays essential roles and involves participation of many channels and transporterslocalized in the plasma membrane as well as in the membrane of intracellular organelles.In mammalian sperm, a fraction of these molecules has been proposed to contribute tomature sperm function. However, in many cases, the evidence for the presence of a givenprotein is based on the use of agonists and antagonists with more than one target. In thisreview, we will critically analyze the published evidence supporting the presence of thesemolecules in mammalian sperm with special emphasis to methods involving tandem massspectrometry identification, electrophysiological evidence and controlled immunoassays.