title: Presence of membranous vesicles in cat seminal plasma: ultrastructural characteristics, protein profile and enzymatic activity.
abstract: This study sought to verify the presence of membranous vesicles in cat seminal plasma by means of transmission electron microscopy and to identify protein profile and some of the enzymatic activities associated with these particles. The transmission electron microscopy observations showed the existence of different sized vesicular membranous structures of more or less spherical shape. These vesicles were surrounded by single-, double- or multiple-layered laminar membranes. The vesicle diameters ranged from 16.3 to 387.4 nm, with a mean of 116.5 ± 70.7 nm. Enzyme activity determinations showed the presence of dipeptilpeptidase IV, aminopeptidase, alkaline and acid phosphatase. To our knowledge, this is the first report that identifies and characterizes the membranous vesicles in cat seminal plasma. However, further studies are necessary to identify the exact site of production of these membranous vesicles in the cat male genital tract and to determine their specific roles in the reproductive events of this species.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polisca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bellezza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontbonne
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zelli
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000626:Aminopeptidases; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4