3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice

0541406 - BTÚ 2021 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Děd, Lukáš - Hwang, J.Y. - Miki, K. - Shi, H. F. - Chung, J.-J.
3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice.
eLife. Roč. 9, OCT 20 2020 (2020), č. článku e62043. ISSN 2050-084X. E-ISSN 2050-084X
Institutional support: RVO:86652036
Keywords : Sperm Capacitation * Acrosome Reaction * Spermatozoa
OECD category: Biology (theoretical, mathematical, thermal, cryobiology, biological rhythm), Evolutionary biology
Impact factor: 8.146, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://elifesciences.org/articles/62043

Out of millions of ejaculated sperm, a few reach the fertilization site in mammals. Flagellar Ca2+ signaling nanodomains, organized by multi-subunit CatSper calcium channel complexes, are pivotal for sperm migration in the female tract, implicating CatSper-dependent mechanisms in sperm selection. Here using biochemical and pharmacological studies, we demonstrate that CatSper1 is an O-linked glycosylated protein, undergoing capacitation-induced processing dependent on Ca2+ and phosphorylation cascades. CatSper1 processing correlates with protein tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) development in sperm cells capacitated in vitro and in vivo. Using 3D in situ molecular imaging and ANN-based automatic detection of sperm distributed along the cleared female tract, we demonstrate that spermatozoa past the utero-tubal junction possess the intact CatSper1 signals. Together, we reveal that fertilizing mouse spermatozoa in situ are characterized by intact CatSper channel, lack of pY, and reacted acrosomes. These findings provide molecular insight into sperm selection for successful fertilization in the female reproductive tract.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0318965