Role of Acid/Base Transporters in the Male Reproductive Tract and Potential Consequences of Their Malfunction

摘要

Acid/base transporters play a key role in establishing an acidic luminal environment for sperm maturation and storage in the male reproductive tract. Impairment of the acidification capacity of the epididymis, via either genetic mutations or exposureto environmental factors, may have profound consequences on male fertility. Of the large number of couples that are affected by infertility, approx30% of the problems result from a male fertility defect. Between 30 and 50% of these male infertility casesare idiopathic. Although a significant number of these cases are likely to have a genetic basis (90), environmental factors are also significant contributors (118). Several studies have shown a progressive decrease in sperm counts and semen quality overthe last few decades, although this issue is the subject of considerable current debate (76, 90). In addition to an inability to produce an adequate number of spermatozoa, a major cause of male infertility is the production of sperm with reduced function, including low motility and poor interaction with the oocyte (41).