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Glycoprotein changes in the rat sperm plasma membrane during maturation in the epididymis
Author(s) -
Srivastava Archana,
Olson Gary E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080290407
Subject(s) - wheat germ agglutinin , glycoprotein , biology , agglutinin , epididymis , biochemistry , sperm , lectin , microbiology and biotechnology , botany
To investigate surface glycoprotein changes during post‐testicular maturation, plasma membranes were isolated from proximal caput, distal caput, and cauda epididymal rat spermatozoa. Membrane glycoproteins were identified on Western blots of SDS‐PAGE fractionated samples using biotinylated lectins and Vectastain reagents; these were compared to glycoproteins present in cauda epididymal luminal fluid. Lens culinaris agglutinin, Pisum sativum agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, wheat germ agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin, Ulaex europaeus agglutinin, and Dolichol biflorus agglutinin each bound a specific subset of the polypeptides present. Several types of glycoprotein changes were noted including their appearance, loss, alteration of staining intensity, and alteration of electrophoretic mobility. Some maturation‐dependent sperm surface glycoproteins co‐migrated with glycoproteins present in epididymal fluid. This approach of direct analysis of the glycoproteins in purified plasma membranes identifies a broader spectrum of maturation‐related surface changes occurring within the epididymis than are noted with surface labeling procedures.