Summary
In this study we have examined the behaviour and the localization of the fucose-binding protein (FBP) in boar spermatozoa during ionophore induced acrosome reaction (AR) by means of normal TEM and specimen preparation in toto. During early stages of AR the FBP is first localized at the border between equatorial segment and anterior acrosome. With the propagation of the AR the FBP is dramatically expressed and visible over the entire surface of the acrosome and equatorial segment. TEM pictures of this stages show that the FBP is associated with the OAM. At later stages of AR, when acrosomal ghost formation occur, the FBP is associated with the acrosomal ghost, and equatorial segment and to a very low degree also with the IAM. It is concluded from this data that the FBP is responsible for the specific binding of the ghost-sperm unit to the zone pellucida.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahuja KK (1982) Fertilization studies in the hamster. The role of cell-surface carbohydrates. Exp Cell Res 140:353–362
Austin CR (1951) Observations on the penetration of the sperm into the mammalian egg. Aust J Sci Res, Ser B 4:581–589
Austin CR, Bishop MWH (1958) Some features of the acrosome and the perforatorium in mammalian spermatozoa. Proc R Soc, Ser B 149:234–240
Barros C, Jedlicki A, Bize J, Aquirre E (1984) Relationship between the length of sperm preincubation and zone penetration in the golden hamster. A scanning electron microscopy study. Gamete Res 9:31–44
Bedford JM (1970) Sperm capacitation and fertilization in mammals. Biol Reprod (Suppl) 2:128–158
Bedford JM, Moore HDM, Franklin LE (1979) Significance of the equatorial segment of the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa in eutherian mammals. Exp Cell Res 119:119–126
Chang MC (1951) Fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa deposited into fallopian tube. Nature 168:697–698
Crozet N (1984) Ultrastructural aspect of in vivo fertilization in the cow. Gamete Res 10:241–251
Crozet N, Dumont M (1984) The site of the acrosome reaction during in vivo penetration of the sheep oocyte. Gamete Res 10:97–106
Cummins JM, Yanagimachi R (1982) Sperm-egg ratios and the site of the acrosome reaction during in vivo fertilization in the hamster. Gamete Res 5:239–256
Flechon JE (1985) Sperm surface changes during acrosome reaction as observed by freeze fracture. Am J Anat 174:239–248
Eriess AE, Sinowatz F (1984) Con A- and WGA-binding sites on bovine epididymal spermatozoa: TEM of specimens in toto. Biol Cell 50:279–284
Geoghegan WD, Ackermann GA (1977) Adsorption of horseradish peroxidase, ovomucoid and anti-immunoglobulin to colloidal gold for the indirect detection of Con A WGA and anti-goat anti human immunoglobulin G on cell surfaces at the electron microscopical level: a new method, thory and application. J Histochem Cytochem 25:1187–1200
Hartmann JF (1983) Mammalian fertilization: gamete surface inferactions in vitro. In: Hartmann JF (ed) Mechanisms and control of animal fertilization. Academic Press, New York, pp 331–333
Hartmann JF, Hutchison CF (1976) Surface interactions between mammalian sperm and egg: Variation of spermatozoa concentration as a probe for the study of binding in vitro. J Cell Physiol 88:219–226
Hinrichsen-Kohane AC, Hinrichsen M, Schill WB (1984) Event leading to fertilization — a review. Andrologia 16:321–341
Huang TTF, Yanagimachi R (1984) Fucoidan inhibits attachment of guinea pig spermatozoa to the zona pellucida through binding to the inner acrosomal membrane and equatorial domains. Exp Cell Res 153:363–373
Huang TTF, Fleming AD, Yanagimachi R (1981) Only acrosome reacted spermatozoa can bind to and penetrate zona pellucida: A study using the guinea pig. J Exp Zool 217:287–290
Huang TTF, Ohzu Jr E, Yanagimachi R (1982) Evidence suggesting that L-fucose is part of a recognition signal for sperm-zona pellucida attachment in mammals. Gamete Res 5:355–361
Kieda C, Roche AC, Delmotte F, Monsigny M (1979) Lymphocyte membrane lectins. Direct visualization by the use of fluoresceinyl-glycosylated cytochemical markers. FEBS Lett 99:329–331
Meizel S (1978) The mammalian sperm acrosome reaction a biochemical approach. In: Johnson MH (ed) Development in mammals, vol 3. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 1–64
Meizel S (1984) Molecules that initiate or help stimulate the acrosome reaction by their interaction with the mammalian sperm surface. Am J Anat 174:285–302
Peterson RN, Russel L, Bundmann D, Freund M (1978) Presence of microfilaments and tubular structures in boar spermatozoa after chemically inducing the acrosome reaction. Biol Reprod 19:459–466
Peterson RN, Russel L, Bundmann D, Freund M (1980) Sperm-egg interaction: direct evidence for boar plasma membrane receptors for porcine zona pellucida. Science 207:73–74
Peterson RN, Russel L, Bundmann D, Conway M, Freund M (1981) The interaction of living boar sperm and sperm plasma membrane vesicles with the procine zona pellucida. Dev Biol 84:144–156
Peterson RN, Russel L, Hunt WP (1984) Evidence for specific binding of uncapacitated boar spermatozoa to porcine zonae pellucidae in vitro. J Exp Zool 231:137–147
Saling PM, Sowinski J, Storey BS (1979) An ultrastructural study of epididymal mouse spermatozoa binding to zonae pellucidae in vitro: Sequential relation to acrosome reaction. J Exp Zool 209:229–238
Schwarz MA, Kochler JK (1979) Alteration in lectin bindings to guinea pig spermatozoa accompanying in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction. Biol Reprod 21:1295–1307
Shams-Borhan G, Harrison RAP (1981) Production, characterization and use of ionophore-induced, calcium-dependent acrosome reaction in ram spermatozoa. Gamete Res 4:407–432
Shur BD, Hall NG (1982b) Sperm surface galactosyltransferase activity during in vitro capacitation. J Cell Biol 95:567–573
Shur BD, Hall NG (1982b) A role for mouse sperm surface galactosyltransferase in sperm binding to the egg zona pellucida. J Cell Biol 95:574–579
Talbot P (1984) Hyaluronidase dissolves a component of the hamster zona pellucida. J Exp Zool 229:309–316
Talbot P (1985) Sperm penetration through oocyte investments in mammals. Am J Anat 174:331–346
Toepfer-Petersen E, Friess AE, Nguyen H, Schill WB (1985) Evidence for a fucose-binding protein in boar spermatozoa. Histochemistry 83:139–145
Watson PF, Plummer JM (1986) Relationship between calcium binding sites and membrane fusion during the acrosome reaction induced by ionophore in ram spermatozoa. J Exp Zool 238:113–118
Yanagimachi R (1981) Mechanism of fertilization in mammals. In: Mastroianni L, Biggers JD (eds) Fertilization and embryonic development in vitro. Plenum Press, New York, pp 81
Yanagimachi R, Noda Y (1970) Physiological changes in the post nuclear cap region of mammalian sperm: A necessary preliminary to membrane fusion between sperm and egg cells. J Ultrastruct Res 31:486–493
Yanagimachi R, Phillips D (1984) The status of acrosomal caps of hamster spermatozoa immediately before fertilization in vivo. Gamete Res 9:1–20
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Friess, A.E., Toepfer-Petersen, E., Nguyen, H. et al. Electron microscopic localization of a fucose-binding protein in acrosome reacted boar spermatozoa by the fucosyl-peroxydase-gold method. Histochemistry 86, 297–303 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00490262
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00490262