The levels of potassium channel Slo and the γ regulating subunit LRRC mRNA in the human sperm with different motility

Objective To explore levels of potassium channel Slo (Slo1and Slo3) and their γ regulating subunit (LRRC26 and LRRC52 ) in human sperm, and their relationship with sperm motility. Methods Collected semen samples from men with asthenospermia or normal semen parameters, relative mRNA expression of Slo1, Slo3, LRRC26 and LRRC52 were detected by real-time qPCR, and its association with sperm motility was analysised. Results Slo1, LRRC26 and LRRC52 mRNA were statistically lowly expressed in sperm of asthenospermia patients (0.47±0.14, 0.56±0.08, 0.55±0.14), compared with that of normal male (0.99±0.21, 1.16±0.24, 1.00± 0.21), the expression of Slo3 in asthenospermia patients is also decreased, but the difference was not significant (0.71± 0.19, 1.03±0.18; P>0.05). Conclusion The low expression of Electric volume regulated Slo1 and its γ regulating subunit (LRRC26 and LRRC52 mRNA) are related with poor sperm motility in human. Key words: Potassium channel; Sperm motility; Male infertility; Asthenospermia