Ion Channels of Spermatozoa: Structure, Function and Regulation Mechanisms
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2021) | Viewed by 30150
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sperm physiology; flow cytometry; sperm motility; boar reproduction; sperm maturation; sperm capacitation; ion channels; immunocytochemistry; sperm cryopreservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ion channels exert a fundamental role in sperm physiology and fertilization; therefore, they modulate homeostasis, motility, chemotaxis towards the egg, and acrosome reaction. Moreover, during their journey to the egg, sperm cells go through different media with a distinct ionic composition, which require continuous cell adaptation and changes in the activity of ion channels.
Different types of ion channels with distinct activation and regulation mechanisms are present in the plasma membrane of mammal and nonmammal spermatozoa, which express sequentially throughout spermatogenesis. Recent studies on marine and mammal spermatozoa have focused on the functional role of calcium, potassium, and proton channels during sperm capacitation and their relationship with plasma membrane hyperpolarization, hyperactivation of sperm motility, and acrosome reaction. Interestingly, some types of ion channels are present in most species but differing in their content and regulation mechanisms, thus highlighting that sperm physiology is species-specific.
This issue of IJMS is focused on “Ion Channels of Spermatozoa: Structure, Function, and Regulation Mechanisms” and therefore welcomes novel research or insightful reviews on the role of ion channels in sperm function. Submissions dealing with the effects of pathologies or sperm processing in ion channel function, as well as comparisons in ion channel content and function between species are also welcomed.
Prof. Elisabeth Pinart
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Sperm physiology
- Spermatogenesis
- Sperm maturation
- Sperm capacitation
- Plasma membrane potential
- Ionic conductance
- Cryopreservation
- Sperm sample processing
- Fertilization
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