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PMID:15944242
| Citation |
Bray, C, Son, JH, Kumar, P and Meizel, S (2005) Mice deficient in CHRNA7, a subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, produce sperm with impaired motility. Biol. Reprod. 73:807-14 |
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| Abstract |
In this study we investigate the role of the CHRNA7 subunit (also known as the alpha7 subunit) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in mouse sperm function. We confirm by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction the expression in adult mouse testis of Chrna7 mRNA and demonstrate the subunit's presence in mouse sperm by immunoblot. Alpha-bungarotoxin binds a range of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits, including the CHRNA7 subunit. Localization studies using a fluorescent alpha-bungarotoxin-tetramethyl-rhodamine conjugate revealed specific binding sites on the midpiece of mouse sperm with fainter alpha-bungarotoxin binding on the remainder of the flagellum. Mice engineered with a double-null disruption of the Chrna7 gene displayed only faint fluorescence on the midpiece, suggesting that the CHRNA7 contributed the majority of the observed alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites. The location of alpha-bungarotoxin binding suggested that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors may play an ionotropic role in sperm motility. Sperm from Chrna7(-/-) mice display no difference in number, morphology, viability or spontaneous acrosome reaction rate compared with Chrna7(+/+) sperm. Studies using computer-assisted sperm analysis indicate the motility of Chrna7(-/-) sperm is significantly impaired. This impairment is characterized by significantly reduced swimming velocities, failure to maintain vigorous swimming, and lower levels of hyperactivated swimming patterns in Chrna7(-/-) sperm compared with Chrna7(+/+) sperm. This is the first genetic evidence that sperm nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are important for maintenance of normal sperm motility. |
| Links |
PubMed Online version:10.1095/biolreprod.105.042184 |
| Keywords |
Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Body Weight; Bungarotoxins/metabolism; Cell Survival; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Organ Size/genetics; Receptors, Nicotinic/deficiency; Receptors, Nicotinic/genetics; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Testis/physiology |
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Significance
Annotations
| Gene product | Qualifier | GO ID | GO term name | Evidence Code | with/from | Aspect | Notes | Status |
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