Influence of the epididymis on integrins and matrix proteins of human spermatozoa.
Spermatozoa alter their antigenity and develop the ability of binding to zona pellucida and to vitellus during the epididymal transit. The involvement of spermatozoal adhesion molecules (AM), especially beta 1-integrins in this binding process between the gametes is very likely. Therefore, the influence of epididymis on the binding capacity of AM was indirectly investigated by comparison of AM on ejaculated and on testicular human spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells, respectively. The AM-expression was detected on ejaculated spermatozoa by flow cytometry (EPICS PROFILE II, Coulter Corp., Krefeld, Germany) and on spermatogenic cells by immunohistology using monoclonal antibodies against. beta 1-integrins and matrix proteins. The alpha-chains 3, 5, 6 of the beta 1-integrins and fibronectin were found on ejaculated spermatozoa as well as on spermatogenic cells except spermatogonia. The alpha-4-chain and laminin could only be detected after the epididymal transit of spermatozoa, whereas, the beta-chain of beta 1-integrins was missing on the ejaculated spermatozoa. These findings suggest that AM are predominantly expressed on spermatogenic cells before the epididymal transit but an epididymis-mediated modulation of AM, i.e. masking, demasking or activating of cryptodeterminants is possible. On this way dysfunction of epididymis could be followed by an impairment of AM-mediated binding capacity of spermatozoa.
Glander
H J
HJ
Department of Andrology/Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
Schaller
J
J
Dethloff
J
J
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004542:Ejaculation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D007797:Laminin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C035027:egg surface sperm receptor; D039441:Integrin alpha4