The role of aquaporins in human sperm motility, viability and mitochondrial membrane potential

Background: Water channel proteins (auaporins, AQPs) regulate transcellular water flow through the membrane. Emerging evidence illustrats the presence of AQPs in human sperm to mediate cell volum regulation (CVR) in female tract where sperm experience a natural osmotic decrease compared to the vas deferens. Thus, CVR is an important factor in male fertility.This study was performed to investigate the involvement of AQPs in human sperm parameters such as motility, viability and mitochondrial membrane potential.Methods: Human ejaculated spermatozoa were washed by human tubal fluid containing bovine serum albumin medium. The sperm suspension in the medium was divided into 4 groups (each group containing 〖 2×10〗^7 spermatozoa): 1. sperm at 0 hour, 2. sperm at 60 minutes (control), 3. sperm treated with HgCl_2 (AQPs inhibitor, 100μM) for 60 minutes and 4. sperm treatment with HgCl_2 + mercaptoethanol (ME, 5 μM, can partially revers the effect of HgCl_2). ME was used 15 minutes after HgCl_2 treatment. The motility was done according to World Health Organization guidelines. Eosin-Negrosin and Rhodamine staining were used to assess viability and mitochondrial membrane potential respectively. Data were analyzed with one way ANOVA.Result: The percentage of these parameters was significantly decreased in the HgCl_2 treated group compared to the control group. In ME + HgCl_2 group, ME could revers the effect of HgCl_2 on the sperm parameters.Conclusion: The result of this study showed that AQPs play role in motility, viability and mitochondrial membrane potential in the human spermatozoa.

کلیدواژه ها:

Human sperm ، Mitochondrial membrane potential. ، Motility ، Viability ، Aquaporin