Showing papers on "Sperm plasma membrane published in 1982"
TL;DR: D differing concentrations of anionic lipids are found in adjacent domains of the sperm plasma membrane, with higher anionic-lipid concentrations localized over fusional zones, indicating that cellular modulation of lipid domains accompanies regulation of membrane function.
Abstract: The relationship between anionic-lipid concentration and the functional properties of plasma-membrane domains was explored using the guinea-pig sperm membrane as a model, with polymyxin B (PXB) as a probe. Areas of plasmalemma specialized for fusion during the acrosome reaction had a higher affinity for the probe than adjacent nonfusigenic regions. In addition, capacitation--a process preceding acrosome:plasma-membrane fusion--markedly enlarged the area susceptible to PXB binding over the acrosomal cap. Protease treatment mimicked capacitation by increasing the acrosome-reaction incidence as well as PXB binding, at enzyme concentrations not affecting the surface coat nor altering filipin/sterol localization. Both proteolytic digestion and capacitation failed to augment PXB- or filipin-affinity in nonfusigenic zones, such as the post-acrosomal segment, including its particle-free maculae. Incubation of sperm in capacitating medium supplemented with 32P-labeled phosphate, followed by lipid extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and autoradiography, revealed a radioactive band comigrating with cardiolipin and phosphatidic acid. Vermiform protrusions elicited by PXB in the outer lamellae of cardiolipin-phosphatidylcholine liposomes resembled those seen in fusional regions of sperm membrane. We conclude that (a) differing concentrations of anionic lipids are found in adjacent domains of the sperm plasma membrane; (b) these domains mirror the functional regions of the membrane, with higher anionic-lipid concentrations localized over fusional zones; (c) the surface coat does not participate in the maintenance of such domains; (d) anionic-lipid synthesis may contribute to their formation; and (e) anionic-lipid concentrations increase as the membrane becomes fusionally competent, indicating that cellular modulation of lipid domains accompanies regulation of membrane function.
181 citations
TL;DR: This protein can be distinguished from other previously characterized seminal plasma proteins and it is assumed that this protein is responsible for delaying uptake of calcium into ejaculated sperm by altering a component(s) of the sperm plasma membrane which serves to actively transport calcium into these cells.
105 citations
TL;DR: The hypothesis that rearrangement of binding site subunits is involved in the acquisition of the ability to bind to zonae, rather than long-range interaction of plasma membrane proteins, is suggested.
Abstract: Epididymal spermatozoa were maintained at 4°C during and after release from the epididymis to assess the effect of membrane fluidity on acquisition by the sperm of the ability to bind to zonae pellucidae of mouse eggs. The hypothesis to be tested was: If membrane fluidity is necessary for acquisition of the ability to bind, then exposure of sperm to 4°C to reduce fluidity markedly should lead to a characteristic delay time in acquiring the ability to bind to zonae. This result was not observed; instead, the relative extent of binding measured at 37°C was decreased relative to control by preincubation at 4°C. The relative extent of binding was reduced to 43% of control after 15 min and to 20% of control after a 60-min preincubation at 4°C. The loss of binding ability was not reversed by subsequent exposure to 37°C in the insemination mixture for up to 60 min if fresh sperm were dispersed directly from epididymides into the cold medium. Dispersal of sperm into medium at 37°C followed by a 15-min preincubation at this temperature, during which time sperm acquire the ability to bind to zonae, conferred full protection against cold-induced loss of binding ability. This loss could not be attributed to motility effects: Mouse sperm are completely immotile if cooled to 4°C, but fully regain their original motility upon warming to 37°C, the temperature of the insemination medium. The binding sites on the sperm plasma membrane for the zona pellucida appear to lose irreversibly their binding ability at 4°C with a half-time of about 15 min. These results suggest the hypothesis that rearrangement of binding site subunits is involved in the acquisition of the ability to bind to zonae, rather than long-range interaction of plasma membrane proteins.
19 citations
TL;DR: During development membranous organelles first appeared in the primary spermatocytes of Ancylostoma and fused with the plasma membrane and the mature spermatozoa became pleomorphic and moved in an ameboid manner.
Abstract: During development membranous organelles first appeared in the primary spermatocytes of Ancy- lostoma. They were derived from the Golgi as two separate components. One component, an electron-dense spheroid, quickly fused with other newly-formed cup-shaped, membranous structures to form the asymmetrical organelles. Initially the membranous organelles had a homogeneous matrix but later became filled with quantities to 6- to 8-nm filaments. Following the meiotic reduction divisions each cell assumed a bipolar configuration. The membranous organelles and mitochondria were confined to the broad anterior region while the non- membrane bound nucleus became located in the narrow posterior region. Golgi membranes, endoplasmic reticulum, and numerous ribosomes were sloughed from the main cell body. The filaments lost their association with the membranous organelles and attached to the plasma membrane while the membranous portion of each organelle became progressively more complex and assumed a periphera) position in the cytoplasm. The resulting spermatid, with its condensed, posteriorly-projected nucleus, and broad anterior cytoplasm, had a tadpolelike appearance. Subsequent to deposition in the female uterus the membranous organelles fused with the plasma membrane and the mature spermatozoa became pleomorphic and moved in an ameboid manner. Because the pseudopods in the mature cell originated in those areas where the filaments previously attached to the plasma membrane it is surmised that the filaments consist of, or contain, actin. The significance of the fusion of the membranous organelles with the sperm plasma membrane, however, remains unknown.
12 citations
TL;DR: The method provides for easy and sensitive localization of sperm surfaceAntigens at the ultrastructural level and is presently being used to localize specific sperm antigens.
Abstract: A simple method for ultrastructural localization of sperm surface antigens by direct visualization of bound antibodies is presented. Anti-sperm plasma membrane (ASPM) immunoglobulin (Ig) G, visualized in tissues treated with an osmium:ferrocyanide mixture, projected 11-13 nm from the surface and ASPM Fab fragments projected 8-10 nm from the surface. The density of IgG labeling, as subjectively estimated, corresponded to indirect immune fluorescein isothiocyanate, indirect immunoferritin, and sperm-vesicle labeling patterns. Agglutination of sperm vesicles and sperm were demonstrated and the linking antibody visualized. A second antibody on protein A directed against ASPM IgG made the immunologic tag more apparent and indicated, in disrupted sperm preparations, labeling of both sides of the plasma membrane. The method provides for easy and sensitive localization of sperm surface antigens at the ultrastructural level and is presently being used to localize specific sperm antigens.
10 citations