• PMID: 27003252
• Gene Name: TRPV4
• Condition: Important for sperm motility, Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Important for sperm motility, Male infertility

TRPV4 is endogenously expressed in vertebrate spermatozoa and regulates intracellular calcium in human sperm

Kumar A, Majhi RK, Swain N, Giri SC, Kar S, Samanta L, Goswami C.

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid sub-type 4 (TRPV4) is a non-selective cationic channel involved in regulation of temperature, osmolality and different ligand-dependent Ca(2+)-influx. Recently, we have demonstrated that TRPV4 is conserved in all vertebrates. Now we demonstrate that TRPV4 is endogenously expressed in all vertebrate sperm cells ranging from fish to mammals. In human sperm, TRPV4 is present as N-glycosylated protein and its activation induces Ca(2+)-influx. Its expression and localization differs in swim-up and swim-down cells suggesting that TRPV4 is an important determining factor for sperm motility. We demonstrate that pharmacological activation or inhibition of TRPV4 regulates Ca(2+)-wave propagation from head to tail. Such findings may have wide application in male fertility-infertility, contraception and conservation of endangered species as well. CI - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FAU - Kumar, Ashutosh AU - Kumar A AD - National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. FAU - Majhi, Rakesh Kumar AU - Majhi RK AD - National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. FAU - Swain, Nirlipta AU - Swain N AD - National Institute of Science Education and Research, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India; Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Orissa, India. FAU - Giri, S C AU - Giri SC AD - Central Avian Research Institute, Bhubaneswar 751003, India. FAU - Kar, Sujata AU - Kar S AD - Kar Clinic and Hospital Pvt. Ltd, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. FAU - Samanta, Luna AU - Samanta L AD - Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Orissa, India.