Rotational motion and rheotaxis of human sperm do not require functional CatSper channels and transmembrane Ca2+ signaling

• Published in: The EMBO journal 2020-02, Vol.39 (4), p.e102363-n/a
• Main Authors: Schiffer, Christian, Rieger, Steffen, Brenker, Christoph, Young, Samuel, Hamzeh, Hussein, Wachten, Dagmar, Tüttelmann, Frank, Röpke, Albrecht, Kaupp, U Benjamin, Wang, Tao, Wagner, Alice, Krallmann, Claudia, Kliesch, Sabine, Fallnich, Carsten, Strünker, Timo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomechanics; Ca2+ signaling; Calcium; Calcium channels; Calcium influx; Calcium ions; Calcium signalling; CatSper; Channels; EMBO05; EMBO20; EMBO29; Flagella; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Human motion; human sperm; Ion flux; Mammals; Microfluidics; Microscopy; Navigation; Oviduct; Rheotaxis; rolling; Signaling; Sperm; Swimming; Swimming behavior
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102363

Navigation of sperm in fluid flow, called rheotaxis, provides long‐range guidance in the mammalian oviduct. The rotation of sperm around their longitudinal axis (rolling) promotes rheotaxis. Whether sperm rolling and rheotaxis require calcium (Ca 2+ ) influx via the sperm‐specific Ca 2+ channel CatSper, or rather represent passive biomechanical and hydrodynamic processes, has remained controversial. Here, we study the swimming behavior of sperm from healthy donors and from infertile patients that lack functional CatSper channels, using dark‐field microscopy, optical tweezers, and microfluidics. We demonstrate that rolling and rheotaxis persist in CatSper‐deficient human sperm. Furthermore, human sperm undergo rolling and rheotaxis even when Ca 2+ influx is prevented. Finally, we show that rolling and rheotaxis also persist in mouse sperm deficient in both CatSper and flagellar Ca 2+ ‐signaling domains. Our results strongly support the concept that passive biomechanical and hydrodynamic processes enable sperm rolling and rheotaxis, rather than calcium signaling mediated by CatSper or other mechanisms controlling transmembrane Ca 2+ flux. Synopsis Mammalian sperm navigation in the oviductal fluid is considered to depend on calcium signaling via the CatSper channel. Here, newly‐developed live imaging microscopy of trapped sperm suggests that passive biomechanical processes, rather than channel‐mediated ion fluxes instruct sperm motility. Rolling and rheotaxis persist in CatSper‐deficient human sperm from infertile patients. Sperm display continuous full 360° rotations, rather than incomplete rotations. Calcium influx is not required for sperm movements. Rolling and rheotaxis persist in CatSper‐deficient mouse sperm. Graphical Abstract Live‐cell imaging unexpectedly reveals that Ca 2+ influx via the CatSper channel is dispensable for rheotactic steering of sperm.