Con A- and WGA-binding sites on bovine epididymal spermatozoa: TEM of specimens in toto.
Binding sites for Con A and WGA were detected on bovine spermatozoa during epididymal maturation. We used colloidal gold as an EM-marker. The spermatozoa were treated according to a two-step method for lectin and colloidal gold, then adsorbed to lysine-coated nickel grids and subsequently examined by TEM in toto. Using this method we rapidly got information about the topographic distribution of lectin-binding sites. Major differences exist for WGA between caput and cauda spermatozoa. Conceding that cell-thickness poses some limitation, we consider this method to be practical and especially useful in studies concerning topographic distribution of cell surface components in single cell systems.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004822:Epididymis; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A / Q000032:analysis*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D037102:Lectins; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; C027503:wheat germ agglutinin receptor