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Asian Journal of Andrology (2012) 14, 301-309; doi:10.1038/aja.2011.118; published online 17 October 2011
Regulation of fertilization in male rats by CatSper2 knockdown
Zhen Zhang1, Gen-Lin Wang1, Hui-Xia Li1, Lian Li1, Qun-Wei Cui1, Cheng-Bin Wei2 and Fei Zhou3
1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
2 Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Henan Academy of Agricultural Science, Zhengzhou 450008, China
3 Model Animal Research Institute, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210065, China
Correspondence: GL Wang, (glwang@njau.edu.cn)
Received 6 April 2011; Revised 6 June 2011; Accepted 4 July 2011
Advance online publication 17 October 2011
| Abstract |
Interest in ion channels as drug targets for contraception has grown with the realization that certain ion channel subunits are located exclusively in sperm. Selective knockdown of ion channel subunits can lead to infertility without ill effects, and selective inhibitors and/or openers of these ion channels could interfere with sperm function. In this study, in vivo electroporation (EP) and rete testis microinjection-mediated plasmid DNA were adopted to silence CatSper2 expression, which is essential in sperm hyperactivation. The results showed that high transfection efficiency and expression were achieved by plasmid DNA that was directly injected into the rete testis. As a result of the expression of CatSper2 being blocked, the treatment group showed significantly lower (P<0.05) hyperactivation rate, fertilization rate in vitro, migration motility in viscoelastic solution and intracellular Ca2+ peak. The low hyperactivation and fertilization rates lasted for 60 days. Meanwhile, analysis of the sperm survival rate and testis histology indicated that in vivo EP had no significant effect on the function of the testis, spermatogenesis or sperm activity. The present study demonstrated that it was feasible to achieve male contraception by silencing the expression of CatSper2, the key protein involved in sperm hyperactivation.
Keywords: Catsper2; in vivo electroporation; male contraception; rete testis microinjection |
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