Lectin-binding sites in testis of men with acrosomeless round-headed spermatozoa.
We report herein about lectin histochemistry of seminiferous epithelia in two infertile men with exlusely acrosomeless round-headed spermatozoa. FITC-conjugated lectins (ConA, PNA, RCA II, WGA) have been employed on tissue sections of Bouin fixed testicular biopsies. RCA II gave a dot-like fluorescence of the acrosomal region and WGA gave a cap-like acrosomal fluorescence of spermatids. PNA-a marker of acrosomal differentiation-failed to stain spermatids. The binding of ConA to germ cells was not influenced by this syndrome. In conclusion, the syndrome of acrosomeless round-headed spermatozoa is associated with selective perturbations of testicular lectin-binding sites. They might contribute of the inability of sperm cells to adhere to and penetrate into ova.
Department of Medicine, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, GDR.
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Wollina
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Schreiber
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Hipler
D000177:Acrosome / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000328:Adult; D001665:Binding Sites; D001706:Biopsy; D005404:Fixatives; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000032:analysis; D013087:Spermatids / Q000032:analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013577:Syndrome; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D005404:Fixatives; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037102:Lectins