3 research outputs found
A new sperm agglutinin factor from marine snail Telescopium telescopium : An evaluation with goat (Capra hircus) cauda epididymal spermatozoa
Background: Lectins, the multivalent carbohydrate binding proteins are
also employed to ascertain differentiation and characterization of the
specific cell surface carbohydrate ligands/ receptors of different cell
types including spermatozoa and posses novel biomedical importance.
Objective: SF50, the sialic acid specific lectin, was employed on goat
cauda epididymal spermatozoa to investigate its effect(s) on the
physiology of sperm cells if any. Materials and Methods: A protein
factor, SF50 was obtained from spermatheca/ ovotestis gland of marine
snail Telescopium telescopium by precipitation with 50% ammonium
sulfate. Different concentrations of SF50 and Bovine serum albumin
(BSA) as control were added with washed goat cauda epididymal
spermatozoa and observed immediately and after 20 s and 60 s of
incubation. Results: SF50 treated sperm cells exhibited head-to-head
type agglutination. The degree of agglutination varied (p<0.001)
with the concentration of SF50 used. Agglutinability of spermatozoa
were significantly higher (p<0.001) with higher concentration of
SF50 as well as incubation period had significant influence
(p<0.001) on the number of agglutinated spermatozoa. Agglutination
and immobilization of spermatozoa occurred instantly with higher doses
of SF50 that of lower doses. Spermatozoan immobilization was
irreversible. Conclusion: Experiment demonstrates sperm surface
components altered when the cells were incubated with SF50 and their
plasma membrane is heterogeneous in nature. Therefore, it could be
that, SF50 binding protein(s) plausibly remain in the acrosomal region.
This observation may prove useful to correlate changes in the sperm
surface during their various biological events, moreover, SF50 as sperm
surface biomarker and as local barrier contraceptive could be thought
off