Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is vital to sperm fertilizing capacity and male fertility

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an anion channel, mutations of which cause cystic fibrosis, a disease characterized by defective Cl⁻ and HCO₃⁻ transport. Although >95% of all CF male patients are infertile because of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), the question whether CFTR mutations are involved in other forms of male infertility is under intense debates. Here we report that CFTR is detected in both human and mouse sperm. CFTR inhibitor or antibody significantly reduces the sperm capacitation, and the associated HCO₃⁻-dependent events, including increases in intracellular pH, cAMP production and membrane hyperpolarization. The fertilizing capacity of the sperm obtained from heterozygous CFTR mutant mice is also significantly lower compared with that of the wild-type. These results suggest that CFTR in sperm may be involved in the transport of HCO₃⁻ important for sperm capacitation and that CFTR mutations with impaired CFTR function may lead to reduced sperm fertilizing capacity and male infertility other than CBAVD.