ISSN:
0148-7280
Keywords:
sperm head/tail junction
;
aldimine bonds
;
sperm head detachment
;
head/tail stabilization
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Rabbit spermatozoa recovered from the reproductive tract of females 12-13 hr postcoitum resisted head/tail separation induced by n-butylamine and dithiothreitol, but not sodium dodecylsulfate. Stabilization of the sperm head/tail junction also developed in vitro at 37°C in physiological media and in saline-Tris-HCl (pH 7.4). Resistance to dithiothreitol occurred in motile, but not immotile spermatozoa. Only nonmotile spermatozoa developed resistance to sodium dodecylsulfate in vitro, whereas both motile and immotile spermatozoa became resistant to n-butylamine. Stabilization to n-butylamine was time and temperature dependent and was accelerated by Cu2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+, but not Mn2+. The resistance of hamster and rabbit spermatozoa to n-butylamine developed in physiological media over the same time intervals as required for capacitation and the acquisition of hyperactivated motility.Reagents that react with sulfhydryl groups had no effect on the development of resistance to n-butylamine but inhibited stabilization to sodium dodecylsulfate, suggesting that the latter stabilization may result from the formation of disulfide crosslinks at the head/tail junction. Reduction of aldehyde groups by sodium cyanoborohydride did not prevent stabilization to sodium dodecylsulfate, but did reduce detachment by dithiothreitol. Aldehyde groups thus are not involved in the stabilization of the head/tail junction to sodium dodecylsulfate, but may participate in new crosslinks stabilizing the head/tail junction to dithiothreitol. Inhibitors of transglutaminase did not prevent development of resistance to n-butylamine, sodium dodecylsulfate, or dithiothreitol indicating that head/tail stabilization does not involve intermolecular γ-glutamyl-∊-dysine bonds.
Additional Material:
6 Tab.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120070309
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