Three major cytoskeletal proteins, actin, tubulin and spectrin, are present in the head of mammalian spermatozoa. Although cytoskeletal proteins are implicated in the regulation of capacitation and the acrosome reaction (AR), their exact role remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of the sperm head cytoskeleton before and after the AR in spermatozoa representing a range of acrosome size and shape. Spermatozoa from the human and three rodents (rat, hamster and grey squirrel) were fixed before and after the AR in appropriate medium in vitro. Indirect immunofluorescent localization of cytoskeletal proteins was undertaken with antibodies recognizing actin, spectrin and alpha-tubulin. Preparations were counterstained with propidium iodide and examined by epifluorescent and confocal microscopy. Our results clearly demonstrated changes in localization of cytoskeleton during the AR, mainly in the apical acrosome with further changes to the equatorial segment and post-acrosomal regions. The pattern of cytoskeletal proteins in the sperm head of all the species was similar in respect to various sub-compartments. These observations indicated that the sperm head cortical cytoskeleton exhibits significant changes during the AR and, therefore, support the image of cytoskeletal proteins as highly dynamic structures participating actively in processes prior to fertilization.
- MeSH
- akrozomální reakce fyziologie MeSH
- aktiny analýza MeSH
- biologické markery analýza MeSH
- cytoskeletální proteiny analýza ultrastruktura MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- fluorescenční mikroskopie MeSH
- fluorescenční protilátková technika nepřímá MeSH
- hlavička spermie ultrastruktura MeSH
- konfokální mikroskopie MeSH
- křečci praví MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- Sciuridae MeSH
- spektrin analýza MeSH
- tubulin analýza MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- křečci praví MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- MeSH
- akrosin analýza fyziologie MeSH
- cytoskeletální proteiny analýza fyziologie MeSH
- exocytóza fyziologie MeSH
- imunoanalýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- spermie fyziologie ultrastruktura MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- srovnávací studie MeSH
