Research report 2011 - Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior - caesar
The mechanism by which progesterone controls human sperm - the mystery is solved
Authors
Strünker, Timo; Goodwin, Normann; Brenker, Christoph
Departments
Molekulare Neurosensorik (Prof. Dr. U. Benjamin Kaupp)
center of advanced european studies and research (caesar), Bonn
center of advanced european studies and research (caesar), Bonn
Summary
Progesterone controls the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and, thereby, the swimming behaviour of human sperm - this has been known for 25 years. However, the mechanism of action of the female sex hormone in sperm has remained mysterious and highly controversial. Researchers from the research center caesar in Bonn have now solved this long standing mystery: Progesterone directly opens sperm-specific CatSper (cation channel of sperm) Ca2+ channels located in the membrane of the sperm´s tail.