Ion channel gene expressions in infertile men: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Infertility is described as not receiving pregnancy despite unprotected and regular sexual intercourse in a 1 yr period. It is detected by 15% of the couples. Male and female factor in the etiology may be detected in similar rates.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate ion channel gene expression in semen samples of infertile male compared with fertile men.

Materials and methods: A total of 150 men who applied to the urology clinic due to infertility were divided into five equal groups: asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and normozoospermia (control). All paticipants were evaluated with Cation Channel Spermia (CatSper) 1, 2, 3, 4, Proton Voltage Gated Ion Channel1 (Hv1), Potassium Channel Subfamily U1 (KCNU1), and transmembrane protein (TMEM16A) gene expression in semen samples.

Results: "CatSper1, 4, HV1, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression were detected higher in the oligozoospermia group compared to the controls. CatSper1, 2, 3, 4, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression in the asthenozoospermia group and CatSper1, 2, 3, 4, KCNU1, and TMEM16A gene expression in the teratozoospermia group were detected lower compared to the controls. CatSper1, 4, HV1, and TMEM16A gen expression were higher in the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia men than the controls while CatSper3 gen expression was detected as lower."

Conclusion: It was detected that these ion channels have an effect on sperm progressive motility and morphology. It may be considered that mutations in these ion channels may result in infertility.

Keywords: Genes; Infertility; Ion channels; Male; Sperm.

Figure 1a

Quantitative real-time PCR validation of transcriptome data for selected ion channel genes. The mRNA fold increase graphic of Ca+2 permeable CatsPer1, 2, 3, and 4 genes. b. The mRNA fold increase graphic of SLO3 (KCNU1), TMEM16A, and HVv1. GAPDH was used as an internal control (see the Experimental section). Results are means±S.E.M. from three independent experiments. T-test was performed for statistical analysis (n=30 for each group); different superscript letters indicate significant differences (p<0.05), a: vs control group; b: vs oligozoospermic group; c: vs asthenozoospermic group; d: vs teratozoospermic group. (student’s test).