Normal Fertility Requires the Expression of Carbonic Anhydrases II and IV in Sperm

HCO(3)(−) is a key factor in the regulation of sperm motility. High concentrations of HCO(3)(−) in the female genital tract induce an increase in sperm beat frequency, which speeds progress of the sperm through the female reproductive tract. Carbonic anhydrases (CA), which catalyze the reversible hydration of CO(2) to HCO(3)(−), represent potential candidates in the regulation of the HCO(3)(−) homeostasis in sperm and the composition of the male and female genital tract fluids. We show that two CA isoforms, CAII and CAIV, are distributed along the epididymal epithelium and appear with the onset of puberty. Expression analyses reveal an up-regulation of CAII and CAIV in the different epididymal sections of the knockout lines. In sperm, we find that CAII is located in the principal piece, whereas CAIV is present in the plasma membrane of the entire sperm tail. CAII and CAIV single knockout animals display an imbalanced HCO(3)(−) homeostasis, resulting in substantially reduced sperm motility, swimming speed, and HCO(3)(−)-enhanced beat frequency. The CA activity remaining in the sperm of CAII- and CAIV-null mutants is 35% and 68% of that found in WT mice. Sperm of the double knockout mutant mice show responses to stimulus by HCO(3)(−) or CO(2) that were delayed in onset and reduced in magnitude. In comparison with sperm from CAII and CAIV double knockout animals, pharmacological loss of CAIV in sperm from CAII knockout animals, show an even lower response to HCO(3)(−). These results suggest that CAII and CAIV are required for optimal fertilization.