Membrane potential and feedback dynamics regulate CatSper-mediated progesterone signaling in human sperm

Activation of the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper by progesterone evokes rapid changes in intracellular Ca2+ in human sperm that are required for fertilization. However, the mechanisms regulating the progesterone-induced Ca2+ signals have remained elusive. Here, we used quantitative kinetic fluorimetry with fast voltage-sensitive fluorescent indicators to investigate how progesterone affects the membrane potential (Vm) of human sperm. Additionally, we employed the FASTM technique to simultaneously record at millisecond time resolution changes in both Vm and intracellular Ca2+. We show that progesterone evokes a rapid pulse-like depolarization and repolarization. The depolarization is caused by Ca2+ influx through CatSper, which pulls Vm away from a resting membrane potential (Vrest) of -65 mV set by the sperm-specific K+ channel Slo3. We further show that Vm- and Ca2+-dependent mechanisms limit the CatSper-mediated Ca2+ influx, thereby promoting repolarization and enabling K+ efflux through Slo3 channels to restore Vrest. Our findings demonstrate that non-genomic progesterone signaling in human sperm is regulated by negative feedback on CatSper and involves a dynamic interplay between CatSper and Slo3 in controlling Vm. We anticipate that our novel kinetic, quantitative Vm recording and Vm/Ca2+-multiplexing techniques will reveal additional molecular mechanisms underlying CatSper-mediated Ca2+ signaling in human sperm both in health and disease.