title: Cross-reactivity of sperm-binding proteins from chicken, turkey, and duck oocytes.
abstract: Binding and penetration of spermatozoa through the perivitelline layer (PL) overlying the hen's ovum have been studied more frequently in the chicken than in other domesticated avian species. Species-specific action of the binding process was tested using an in vitro competition assay in which spermatozoa from the cock, tom, and drake were pretreated with solubilized PL protein (PL-P) from the chicken, turkey, and duck ovum. Spermatozoa were pretreated with PL-P for 20 min at 39 C and co-incubated in vitro with a .5 cm2 section of intact PL from the homologous sperm donor species for an additional 10 min at 39 C. Effectiveness of PL-P pretreatment was assessed quantitatively by the number of spermatozoa bound to the PL, and was expressed as a percentage of the control [minimum essential medium (MEM) pretreated sperm = 100%] binding. Pretreatment of cock spermatozoa with chicken, turkey, or duck PL-P resulted in 21, 40, and 48% binding, respectively. Similarly, pretreatment of tom spermatozoa with PL-P from chicken, turkey, or duck resulted in 45, 51, and 39% binding, and that of drake spermatozoa resulted in 38, 32, and 21% binding, respectively. Incubation of spermatozoa with PL-P from chicken, turkey, and duck ova indicated cross-reactivity and suppression of binding between avian spermatozoa and PL that was not species-specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bramwell
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Howarth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011200:Poultry / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins