Ascorbic acid induces spectrin reorganization in bull epididymal spermatozoa.
The acrosome, a complex organelle, plays a key regulatory role in the sperm-egg interaction. We have previously shown that ascorbic acid affects both motility and spectrin protein patterns in sperm. In this study, we further characterized the changes in spectrin in sperm challenged with ascorbic acid, using SDS-PAGE, western blots, and immunofluorescence. Ascorbic acid shifts spectrin to a higher-molecular-weight species based on western blot studies. This shift in the spectrin band correlates with a striking series of changes in spectrin immunofluorescence patterns. Upon ascorbic acid challenge, spectrin localization changes, eventually resulting in the formation of vesicles. These vesicles can reach sizes up to five times the original volume of the sperm cell and sometimes show multiple spikes. These findings indicate that a novel process is taking place in the acrosome upon ascorbic acid challenge and suggest that the cytoskeleton may be a useful target for studying and hopefully controlling the sperm-egg interaction.
Centro per lo Studio delle Cellule Germinali del CNR and Istituto di Biologia Generale dell'Università di Siena, Italy.
J S
JS
Chen
C
C
Sensini
M
M
Barbetti
D
D
Manca
M G
MG
Menesini Chen
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D013049:Spectrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D013049:Spectrin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid