Ultrastructural localization of glycodelin oligosaccharides Le-x and Le-y in human seminal vesicles by immunogold staining.
Histo-blood group antigens Le-x and Le-y are oligosaccharidic terminals that characterize many glycoproteins in the human tissues. In seminal plasma, they are expressed as part of the so-called glycodelin S, which is suggested to regulate sperm capacitation/decapacitation. It has recently been demonstrated that the core protein of glycodelin S is secreted by seminal vesicles. Here we show that epithelial cells of human seminal vesicles also release the Le-x and Le-y antigens. The presence of these substances in secretory material was revealed by means of an immunogold staining method in normal surgical samples. The results suggest that glycodelin S is secreted by seminal vesicles in its finished glycosylated form. Moreover, antigen reactivity was also revealed associated with plasma membranes.
Piludu
M
M
Dipartimento di Citomorfologia, Università di Cagliari, Italy. epiludu@unica.it
Cossu
M
M
De Lisa
A
A
Piras
M
M
Lantini
M S
MS
D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins