ISSN:
0148-7280
Keywords:
acrosomal
;
membranes
;
antisera
;
agglutination
;
immobilization
;
sperm concentration
;
zona pellucida
;
enzymes
;
mating
;
sterility
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Rabbits were immunized against their alloantigens extracted from the sperm acrosome. The sequential method of extraction, first by MgCl2 then by detergents, provided the plasma and outer acrosomal membranes and their contents in the first step and the inner acrosomal membrane and its components in the next step. Both groups of antigens appear to have produced monospecific antisera. The MgCl2 extract antiserum lost its sperm immobilization and agglutination activities on absorption to its antigen. The detergent extract, under similar treatment, remained unaffected. Therefore, the agglutination and immobilization factors resided on the plasma membrane. The decrease in sperm concentration suggested that the immunogen affected the germinal epithelium. The reduction in the semen volume and seminal enzymes seems to indicate that the accessory sex glands were also affected by the treatment.The antiserum blocked the dissolution of the hamster and rabbit zona pellucida by the MgCl2 extract. The normal serum had no such effect. Both the normal and immune sera inhibited acrosin equally well while the antisera inhibited other proteinases, arylsulfatase, and β-N-acetylhexosaminidase to a significantly greater extent. Immunized rabbits failed to impregnate females as long as the antibody titer remained high. As the titer declined these animals became fertile and the females delivered normal litters.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120090302
