Abstract
Maturation of the spermatozoon of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) during epididymal transit was investigated using light and electron microscopy. Except for the caudal migration of the cytoplasmic droplet there were no apparent ultrastructural modifications, although interesting morphological features of the sperm head were observed such as the substructure of the acrosome and a waist at the equatorial region. Alteration to the plasmalemma during maturation was reflected by an increasing capacity of the sperm surface to bind wheat germ agglutinin (recognising n-acetyl-d-glucosamine) but not ricin communis or concanavalin agglutinins. This change was concomitant with the development of sperm fertilising capacity in this species.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bedford J. M., Calvin H., Cooper G. W. The maturation of spermatozoa in the human epididymis. J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1973 Jul;18:199–213. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bedford J. M., Moore H. D., Franklin L. E. Significance of the equatorial segment of the acrosome of the spermatozoon in eutherian mammals. Exp Cell Res. 1979 Mar 1;119(1):119–126. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(79)90341-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burgos M. H. Ultrastructure of the mammalian sperm head during differentiation and matruation. Basic Life Sci. 1974;4(Pt A):209–225. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-2889-6_14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greenaway P. J., LeVine D. Binding of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid by wheat-germ agglutinin. Nat New Biol. 1973 Feb 7;241(110):191–192. doi: 10.1038/newbio241191a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hinrichsen M. J., Blaquier J. A. Evidence supporting the existence of sperm maturation in the human epididymis. J Reprod Fertil. 1980 Nov;60(2):291–294. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0600291. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hjort T., Hansen K. B. Immunofluorescent studies on human spermatozoa. I. The detection of different spermatozoal antibodies and their occurrence in normal and infertile women. Clin Exp Immunol. 1971 Jan;8(1):9–23. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holt W. V. Development and maturation of the mammalian acrosome. A cytochemical study using phosphotungstic acid staining. J Ultrastruct Res. 1979 Jul;68(1):58–71. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(79)90142-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holt W. V., Moore H. D. Ultrastructural aspects of spermatogenesis in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). J Anat. 1984 Jan;138(Pt 1):175–188. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moore H. D. An assessment of the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in the epididymis of the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus). Int J Androl. 1981 Jun;4(3):321–330. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1981.tb00716.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moore H. D., Bedford J. M. Ultrastructure of the equatorial segment of hamster spermatozoa during penetration of oocytes. J Ultrastruct Res. 1978 Feb;62(2):110–117. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(78)90013-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nicolson G. L., Usui N., Yanagimachi R., Yanagimachi H., Smith J. R. Lectin-binding sites on the plasma membranes of rabbit spermatozoa. Changes in surface receptors during epididymal Maturation and after ejaculation. J Cell Biol. 1977 Sep;74(3):950–962. doi: 10.1083/jcb.74.3.950. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Prakash A., Moore H. D. Localization of delta 5-3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the efferent ducts, epididymis and vas deferens of the rabbit, hamster and marmoset monkey. J Reprod Fertil. 1982 Sep;66(1):95–100. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0660095. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ramos A. S., Jr, Dym M. Fine structure of the monkey epididymis. Am J Anat. 1977 Aug;149(4):501–531. doi: 10.1002/aja.1001490407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rattner J. B., Brinkley B. R. Ultrastructure of mammalian spermiogenesis. I. A tubular complex in developing sperm of the cottontop marmoset Sequinus oedipus. J Ultrastruct Res. 1970 Aug;32(3):316–322. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(70)80012-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stockert J. C., Colman O. D., Giménez-Martín G., Esponda P. Selective staining of rodent acrosomes with phosphotungstic acid. Mikroskopie. 1975 Apr;31(1-2):36–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]