Human sperm protein may hold clues to male infertility

Scientists have identified a protein in human sperm which may hold clues to male infertility, thus making diagnosis easy.

Scientists at the Chinese University in Hong Kong have identified a protein in human sperm and that of mice, which may hold clues to male infertility.

As part of the study, researchers examined sperms from mutant mice with defective versions of the protein. They found that the sperms of mutant mice had very low fertility as compared to those of normal mice.

"(The protein) is involved in the transport of bicarbonate, which is required for sperm activation in order to fertilize the egg. If you have a defect in this (protein), then fertilization capacity of the sperm will be impaired or reduced," Chang said.

"For many people, they are infertile, but they don't know why, so diagnosis would be the immediate advantage," Chan added.

The findings of the study were published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences journal.