The Action of Reproductive Fluids and Contained Steroids, Prostaglandins, and Zn2+ on CatSper Ca2+ Channels in Human Sperm

The sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper registers chemical cues that assist human sperm to fertilize the egg. Prime examples are progesterone and prostaglandin E-1 that activate CatSper without involving classical nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors, respectively. Here, we study the action of seminal and follicular fluid as well of the contained individual prostaglandins and steroids on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of sperm from donors and CATSPER2-deficient patients that lack functional CatSper channels. We show that any of the reproductive steroids and prostaglandins evokes a rapid Ca2+ increase that invariably rests on Ca2+ influx via CatSper. The hormones compete for the same steroid- and prostaglandin-binding site to activate the channel, respectively. Analysis of the hormones' structure-activity relationship highlights their unique pharmacology in sperm and the chemical features determining their effective properties. Finally, we show that Zn2+ suppresses the action of steroids and prostaglandins on CatSper, which might prevent premature prostaglandin activation of CatSper in the ejaculate, aiding sperm to escape from the ejaculate into the female genital tract. Altogether, our findings reinforce that human CatSper serves as a promiscuous chemosensor that enables sperm to probe the varying hormonal microenvironment prevailing at different stages during their journey across the female genital tract.

Automated summary

The study reveals that reproductive steroids and prostaglandins can rapidly increase intracellular calcium concentration in sperm through CatSper channels, competing for the same binding site to activate the channel, while zinc ions can suppress their action. These findings reinforce the role of CatSper as a chemosensor, enabling sperm to probe the hormonal microenvironment at different stages during their journey.