Spermatozoa emerging from the testis undergo a maturation process in the epididymis during which they change morphologically, biochemically and physiologically to gain motility and the ability to fertilize ova. We exa...Spermatozoa emerging from the testis undergo a maturation process in the epididymis during which they change morphologically, biochemically and physiologically to gain motility and the ability to fertilize ova. We examined mouse epididymal sperm with immunostaining and transmission electron microscopy （EM） and identified a previously unknown structure on the apical hook. The structure has a coiled configuration around 11 nm in thickness and is present at the tip of each corner of the triangular-rod shaped perforatorium. Surveying sperm isolated from various regions of the epididymis indicated that mouse sperm acquire the hook rim （HR） structure during its passage through the proximal two-thirds of the caput epididymidis. The structure withstands vigorous sonication and harsh chemical treatments and remains intact after the acrosome reaction. Its location and sturdiness suggest a function in protecting the apical hook from mechanical wear during fertilization. Our EM images of epididymal sperm also revealed additional novel structures as well as lateral asymmetry of the sperm head, indicating that mouse sperm head has a structure more complex than previously recognized.展开更多
A variety of glycosylphosphatidylinositol （GPI）-linked proteins are acquired on spermatozoa from epididymal luminal fluids （ELF） during sperm maturation. These proteins serve roles in immunoprotection and in key s...A variety of glycosylphosphatidylinositol （GPI）-linked proteins are acquired on spermatozoa from epididymal luminal fluids （ELF） during sperm maturation. These proteins serve roles in immunoprotection and in key steps of fertilization such as capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis and sperm-egg interactions. Their acquisition on sperm cells is mediated both by membrane vesicles （epididymosomes, EP） which were first reported to dock on the sperm surface, and by lipid carriers which facilitate the transfer of proteins associated with the membrane-free fraction of ELF. While the nonvesicular fraction is more efficient, both pathways are dependent on hydrophobic interactions between the GPI-anchor and the external lipid layer of the sperm surface. More recently proteomic and hypothesis-driven studies have shown that EP from several mammals carry transmembrane （TM） proteins, including plasma membrane Ca^2＋-ATPase 4 （PMCA4）. Synthesized in the testis, PMCA4 is an essential protein and the major Ca^2＋ efflux pump in murine spermatozoa. Delivery of PMCA4 to spermatozoa from bovine and mouse EP during epididymal maturation and in vitro suggests that the docking of EP on the sperm surface precedes fusion, and experimental evidence supports a fusogenic mechanism for TM proteins. Fusion is facilitated by CD9, which generates fusion-competent sites on membranes. On the basis of knowledge of PMCA4＇s interacting partners a number of TM and membrane-associated proteins have been identified or are predicted to be present, in the epididymosomal cargo deliverable to spermatozoa. These Ca^2＋-dependent proteins, undetected in proteomic studies, play essential roles in sperm motility and fertility, and their detection highlights the usefulness of the hypothesis-driven approach.展开更多
文摘Spermatozoa emerging from the testis undergo a maturation process in the epididymis during which they change morphologically, biochemically and physiologically to gain motility and the ability to fertilize ova. We examined mouse epididymal sperm with immunostaining and transmission electron microscopy （EM） and identified a previously unknown structure on the apical hook. The structure has a coiled configuration around 11 nm in thickness and is present at the tip of each corner of the triangular-rod shaped perforatorium. Surveying sperm isolated from various regions of the epididymis indicated that mouse sperm acquire the hook rim （HR） structure during its passage through the proximal two-thirds of the caput epididymidis. The structure withstands vigorous sonication and harsh chemical treatments and remains intact after the acrosome reaction. Its location and sturdiness suggest a function in protecting the apical hook from mechanical wear during fertilization. Our EM images of epididymal sperm also revealed additional novel structures as well as lateral asymmetry of the sperm head, indicating that mouse sperm head has a structure more complex than previously recognized.
文摘A variety of glycosylphosphatidylinositol （GPI）-linked proteins are acquired on spermatozoa from epididymal luminal fluids （ELF） during sperm maturation. These proteins serve roles in immunoprotection and in key steps of fertilization such as capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis and sperm-egg interactions. Their acquisition on sperm cells is mediated both by membrane vesicles （epididymosomes, EP） which were first reported to dock on the sperm surface, and by lipid carriers which facilitate the transfer of proteins associated with the membrane-free fraction of ELF. While the nonvesicular fraction is more efficient, both pathways are dependent on hydrophobic interactions between the GPI-anchor and the external lipid layer of the sperm surface. More recently proteomic and hypothesis-driven studies have shown that EP from several mammals carry transmembrane （TM） proteins, including plasma membrane Ca^2＋-ATPase 4 （PMCA4）. Synthesized in the testis, PMCA4 is an essential protein and the major Ca^2＋ efflux pump in murine spermatozoa. Delivery of PMCA4 to spermatozoa from bovine and mouse EP during epididymal maturation and in vitro suggests that the docking of EP on the sperm surface precedes fusion, and experimental evidence supports a fusogenic mechanism for TM proteins. Fusion is facilitated by CD9, which generates fusion-competent sites on membranes. On the basis of knowledge of PMCA4＇s interacting partners a number of TM and membrane-associated proteins have been identified or are predicted to be present, in the epididymosomal cargo deliverable to spermatozoa. These Ca^2＋-dependent proteins, undetected in proteomic studies, play essential roles in sperm motility and fertility, and their detection highlights the usefulness of the hypothesis-driven approach.
