Abstract
Infertility rates for both females and males have increased continuously
in recent years. Currently, effective treatments for male infertility
with defined mechanisms or targets are still lacking. G protein-coupled
receptors (GPCRs) are the largest class of drug targets, but their
functions and the implications on therapeutic development for male
infertility largely remain elusive. Nevertheless, recent studies have
shown that several members of the GPCR superfamily play crucial roles in
the maintenance of ion-water homeostasis of the epididymis, development
of the efferent ductules, formation of the blood-epididymal barrier, and
maturation of sperm. Knowledge of the functions, genetic variations, and
working mechanisms of such GPCRs, along with the drugs and ligands
relevant to their specific functions, provide future directions and
elicit great arsenal for potential therapy development for treating male
infertility.