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Distribution of terminal sugar residues in the testis of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata
Author(s) -
Liguoro Annamaria,
Prisco Marina,
Mennella Clotilde,
Ricchiari Loredana,
Angelini Francesco,
Andreuccetti Piero
Publication year - 2004
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.20112
Subject(s) - biology , spermatid , spermatocyte , germ cell , acrosome , microbiology and biotechnology , spermatogenesis , lectin , glycoconjugate , glycoprotein , cytoplasm , somatic cell , sperm , biochemistry , endocrinology , meiosis , genetics , gene
Lectins represent a class of proteins/glycoproteins binding specifically to terminal sugar residues. The present investigation aims to identify lectin‐binding sites in testis of Torpedo marmorata . Using a panel of lectins coupled with fluoresceine isothiocyanate, we demonstrated that germ and somatic cells present in Torpedo testis contain glycoconjugates, whose distribution at the level of the surface, the cytoplasm and the nucleus changes during germ cell differentiation. Moreover our observations demonstrate that the germ cells undergoing apoptosis (Prisco et al., 2003a: Mol Reprod Dev 64:341–348) overexpress a residual sugar recognised by WFA lectin that can be considered a specific marker for apoptotic germ cells. Finally, our results indicate that there is a progressive increase in glycosilation during spermatogenesis, especially at the level of the acrosome in the spermatocyte‐spermatid step, and that Leydig cells are differently stained in relation to the spermatogenetic cycle. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 524–530, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.