Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), as a member of the Hsp family and widely found in the gonads of humans and animals, plays an essential role in male reproduction and induces various changes in the process of reproduction. Hsp90 regulates the division of germ cells and participates in spermatogenesis, location of germ cells, formation of sperm microtubes, protection of sperm from oxidative stress, and inducement of acrosomal reaction. Studies showed significant changes in location and expression of Hsp90 in the sperm of oligospermia and asthenospermia patients. This paper presents an overview of Hsp90 in male reproduction and male infertility and a prospect of the treatment of male infertility.
Keywords: male infertility; male reproduction; sperm; heat shock protein 90.