Roles of zinc signaling in mammalian reproduction

Abstract

Zinc is a critical trace element that is important for cellular function in both female and male reproductive organs. Zinc imbalance and/or altered zinc signaling causes multiple disorders in the reproductive process, including oogenesis, spermatogenesis, fertilization, and embryogenesis. Extracellular and intracellular dynamics of zinc ions are regulated by cell-specific transporters, i.e., Zrt-, Irt-related protein (ZIP) or zinc transporter (ZnT), which respectively transport zinc ions in or out of the cytoplasm through biological membranes. The expression and function of these transporters vary among cell types. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying zinc homeostasis and zinc dynamics in reproductive function will lead to better infertility treatments for humans as well as the improvement of livestock production. In this review, we discuss the essential roles of zinc signaling in the key events in mammalian reproduction, with a focus on the period from gametogenesis to embryonic development.