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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
Published on: March 1, 2019
[Expression of the voltage-dependent anion channel gene in human ejaculated spermatozoa]
1Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive and Genetic Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guang-dong 518036, China. xuxiang_hard@163.com
Objective:
To identify the genes involved in sperm motility.
Methods:
We hybridized asthenospermia and normal motile sperm cDNA samples with the human whole genome Affymetrix chip to screen differentially expressed genes. Then we detected the mRNA expressions of the voltage-dependent anion channel genes (VDACs) in human organs and spermatozoa by RT-PCR and compared their expressions in the poor and normal motility spermatozoa.
Results:
Differentially expressed genes VDACs were identified by analysis of the hybridization signals, including the 3 subtypes VDAC1, VDAC2 and VDAC3. The expression of VDAC2 mRNA was significantly decreased in the poor motility sperm (0.568 +/- 0.036), as compared with the healthy men (0.803 +/- 0.043, P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The decreased expression of VDAC2 in the ejaculated spermatozoa is possibly associated with the reduction of sperm motility.
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