Fig. 6

Membrane potential and expression patterns of LRRC52 and CatSper1 examined in the spermatozoa from control and SLO3-mutant subjects. A Membrane potential measurements of wild-type and SLO3 mutant sperm in capacitated conditions. The capacitation-associated hyperpolarization of human sperm is inhibited in SLO3 mutant spermatozoa, Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ***P < 0.001; Student’s t-test. B Immunoblotting of sperm lysates from controls and the SLO3-mutated individual using the anti-LRRC52 and CatSper1 antibodies. Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1 was used as loading control. The expression of the LRRC52 protein is decreased in mutant sperm, whereas the level of the CatSper1 protein is comparable to that of control. C Representative images of spermatozoa from fertile controls and the SLO3 mutant patient stained with the anti-LRRC52 antibody, anti-CatSper1 antibody, anti-Ac-tubulin antibody, and Hoechst. Two independent experiments were performed and at least 150 sperm we re-examined for each time per individual. Scale bars, 20 μm