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Related Concept Videos

Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

p,p'-DDE activates CatSper and compromises human sperm function at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Renata S Tavares1, Steven Mansell, Christopher L R Barratt

  • 1Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell Group, CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3001-401, Portugal.

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|September 27, 2013
PubMed
Summary

The environmental toxin p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) disrupts human sperm function by increasing intracellular calcium via CatSper channels. This non-genomic action compromises sperm parameters essential for fertilization.

Keywords:
Ca2+ influxCatSperacrosome reactionintracellular Ca2+ concentrationp,p′-DDE

More Related Videos

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging
19:26

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging

Published on: May 24, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging
19:26

Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging

Published on: May 24, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Environmental toxicology
  • Spermatozoa function
  • Endocrine disruption

Background:

  • p,p '-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p '-DDE) is an environmental endocrine disruptor.
  • Its non-genomic effects on human sperm are unknown, despite its presence in reproductive fluids.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if p,p '-DDE induces non-genomic changes in human sperm.
  • To determine the effect of p,p '-DDE on functional sperm parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Human sperm samples were exposed to various p,p '-DDE concentrations in vitro.
  • Intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) was monitored using fluorescence imaging and patch-clamp recordings.
  • Sperm viability and acrosomal integrity were assessed.

Main Results:

  • p,p '-DDE rapidly increased [Ca(2+)]i in sperm, even at low doses, by activating CatSper channels.
  • Extracellular calcium influx was responsible for the observed increase in [Ca(2+)]i.
  • Acrosomal integrity was compromised after prolonged p,p '-DDE exposure, suggesting premature acrosome reaction.

Conclusions:

  • p,p '-DDE activates CatSper channels in human sperm, leading to altered calcium flux.
  • This mechanism compromises sperm function and potentially male fertility.
  • The findings highlight a novel non-genomic mechanism of endocrine disruption in sperm.