Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 903374 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Lectin-binding sites on the plasma membranes of rabbit spermatozoa. Changes in surface receptors during epididymal Maturation and after ejaculation.

The Journal of cell biology ·Vol. 74 ·No. 3 ·1977-09-00 ·Pages 950-62

Nicolson GL, Usui N, Yanagimachi R, Yanagimachi H, Smith JR

Abstract

MODIFICATIONS IN RABBIT SPERM PLASMA MEMBRANES DURING EPIDIDYMAL PASSAGE AND AFTER EJACULATION WERE INVESTIGATED BY USED OF THREE LECTINS: concanavalin A (Con A); Ricinus communis I (RCA(I)); and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). During sperm passage from caput to cauda epididymis, agglutination by WGA drastically decreased, and agglutination by RCA(I) slightly decreased, although agglutination by Con A remained approximately unchanged. After ejaculation, spermatozoa were agglutinated to a similar degree or slightly less by Con A, WGA, and RCA(I), compared to cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Ultrastructural examination of sperm lectin-binding sites with ferritin- lectin conjugates revealed differences in the densities of lectin receptors in various sperm regions, and changes in the same regions during epididymal passage and after ejaculation. Ferritin-RCA(I) showed abrupt changes in lectin site densities between acrosomal and postacrosomal regions of sperm heads. The relative amounts of ferritin-RCA(I) bound to heads of caput epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa. Tail regions were labeled by ferritin RCA(I) almost equally on caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa, but the middle-piece region of ejaculated spermatozoa was slightly more densely labeled than the principal-piece region, and these two regions on ejaculated spermatozoa were labeled less than on caput and cuada epididymal spermatozoa. Ferritin-WGA densely labeled the acrosomal region of caput epididymal spermatozoa, although labeling of cauda epidiymal spermatozoa was relatively sparse except in the apical area of the acrosomal region. Ejaculated spermatozoa bound only a few molecules of ferritin-WGA, even at the highest conjugate concentrations used. Caput epididymal, but not cauda epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa, bound ferritin-WGA in the tail regions. Dramatic differences in labeling densities during epididymal passage and after ejaculation were not found with ferritin-Con A.

MeSH Terms
Animals Ejaculation Epididymis Lectins Male Rabbits Receptors, Concanavalin A Receptors, Drug Sperm Agglutination Sperm Head/ultrastructure Sperm Maturation Sperm Tail/ultrastructure Spermatozoa/ultrastructure
Chemicals
Lectins Receptors, Concanavalin A Receptors, Drug
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Nicolson G L
Usui N
Yanagimachi R
Yanagimachi H
Smith J R
References (35)
35 references, click to expand
  1. ANTIGENICITY AND CROSS-REACTIONS OF BOVINE SPERMATOZOA.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1964 Jun;7:357-65 PMID: 14184119
  2. The seminal vesicle as the source of the spermatozoa-coating antigen of seminal plasma.
    Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1962 Mar;109:567-70 PMID: 14005645
  3. Morphological changes in rabbit spermatozoa during passage through the epididymis.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1963 Apr;5:169-77 PMID: 13970203
  4. On the regional histology and cytochemistry of the ductus epididymidis in rabbits.
    Acta Morphol Neerl Scand. 1957;1(2):99-118 PMID: 13434847
  5. Antigens of human seminal plasma.
    Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1956 Jul;92(3):606-10 PMID: 13359480
  6. Qualitative and quantitative interactions of lectins with untreated and neuraminidase-treated normal, wild-type, and temperature-sensitive polyoma-transformed fibroblasts.
    Biochemistry. 1975 Jan 14;14(1):172-9 PMID: 162828
  7. The distribution and asymmetry of mammalian cell surface saccharides utilizing ferritin-conjugated plant agglutinins as specific saccharide stains.
    J Cell Biol. 1974 Jan;60(1):236-48 PMID: 4129077
  8. Binding of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid by wheat-germ agglutinin.
    Nat New Biol. 1973 Feb 7;241(110):191-2 PMID: 4349436
  9. The interaction of Ricinus communis agglutinin with normal and tumor cell surfaces.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1972 May 9;266(2):543-7 PMID: 4338881
  10. A difference in the architecture of the surface membrane of normal and virally transformed cells.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1969 Mar;62(3):994-1001 PMID: 4308100
  11. Topographical location of H-Y antigen on mouse spermatozoa by immunoelectronmicroscopy.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973 May;70(5):1502-5 PMID: 4576022
  12. Electron microscopic observations of the distribution of acidic anionic residues on hamster spermatozoa and eggs before and during fertilization.
    J Ultrastruct Res. 1973 May;43(3):344-53 PMID: 4575716
  13. The maturation of spermatozoa in the human epididymis.
    J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1973 Jul;18:199-213 PMID: 4516681
  14. Trans-membrane control of the receptors on normal and tumor cells. II. Surface changes associated with transformation and malignancy.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1976 Apr 30;458(1):1-72 PMID: 181093
  15. Membrane differentiations in freeze-fractured mammalian sperm.
    J Cell Biol. 1974 Nov;63(2 Pt 1):641-64 PMID: 4423603
  16. Mobility and the restriction of mobility of plasma membrane lectin-binding components.
    Science. 1974 Jun 21;184(4143):1294-6 PMID: 4857344
  17. Fine structure observations on the distribution of antigenic sites on guinea pig spermatozoa.
    J Cell Biol. 1974 Mar;60(3):789-95 PMID: 4824297
  18. Immunoelectrophoretic characterization of fluid and sperm entering and leaving the bovine epididymis.
    Biol Reprod. 1973 Dec;9(5):489-99 PMID: 4766928
  19. Agglutination of normal, coated and enzyme-treated human spermatozoa with heterophile agglutinins.
    Vox Sang. 1972;23(5):444-51 PMID: 4677912
  20. The distribution of negative surface charges on mammalian spermatozoa.
    Am J Anat. 1972 Dec;135(4):497-519 PMID: 4674031
  21. Free sialic acids in the seminal vesicle secretion of the golden hamster.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1972 Feb;28(2):273-5 PMID: 5058268
  22. Terminal saccharides on sperm plasma membranes: identification by specific agglutinins.
    Science. 1972 Jul 21;177(4045):276-9 PMID: 5041026
  23. Epididymal physiology. I. Specificity of antisera against bull spermatozoa and reproductive fluids.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1970 Aug;22(3):441-52 PMID: 4989230
  24. Protein-carbohydrate interaction. VI. Isolation of concanavalin A by specific adsorption on cross-linked dextran gels.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1967 Oct 23;147(2):262-71 PMID: 4965259
  25. The spermatozoa-coating antigen (SCA) of the seminal vesicle.
    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1965 Jun 30;124(1):267-9 PMID: 5322082
  26. Ultrastructural localization of lectin-binding sites on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of mammalian eggs.
    J Cell Biol. 1975 Aug;66(2):263-74 PMID: 1095597
  27. Cell surface glycosyltransferases.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1975 Dec 29;415(4):473-512 PMID: 1106769
  28. Transmembrane control of the receptors on normal and tumor cells. I. Cytoplasmic influence over surface components.
    Biochim Biophys Acta. 1976 Apr 13;457(1):57-108 PMID: 1260065
  29. Studies on the distribution of antigenic sites on the surface of rabbit spermatozoa.
    J Cell Biol. 1975 Dec;67(3):647-59 PMID: 1202018
  30. The proteins of bovine spermatozoa from the caput and cauda epididymidis.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1971 Feb;24(2):219-32 PMID: 5551413
  31. The synthesis of complex carbohydrates by multiglycosyltransferase systems and their potential function in intercellular adhesion.
    Chem Phys Lipids. 1970 Oct;5(1):270-97 PMID: 5476326
  32. The lipid content of bovine spermatozoa during maturation and ageing.
    J Reprod Fertil. 1970 Nov;23(2):215-22 PMID: 5481721
  33. Studies on the function of the epididymis.
    Biol Reprod. 1969 Jun;1:Suppl 1:155-75 PMID: 5406325
  34. Protein-carbohydrate interaction. IX. Application of the quantitative hapten inhibition technique to polysaccharide-concanavalin A interaction. Some comments on the forces involved n concanavalin A-polysaccharide interaction.
    J Immunol. 1967 Jul;99(1):158-63 PMID: 6029273
  35. Changes in fine structure of the rabbit sperm head during passage through the epididymis.
    J Anat. 1965 Oct;99(Pt 4):891-906 PMID: 5867174
Article Info
Journal
The Journal of cell biology
Abbr.
J Cell Biol
ISSN
0021-9525
DOI
10.1083/jcb.74.3.950
Published
1977-09-00
Pages
950-62
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0375356
PMCID
PMC2110101
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1083/jcb.74.3.950 PMC Full Text View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: product@genelibs.com

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2