scholarly journals Visualization and quantification of glycolipid polarity dynamics in the plasma membrane of the mammalian spermatozoon

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (8) ◽  
pp. 2151-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Gadella ◽  
T.W. Gadella ◽  
B. Colenbrander ◽  
L.M. van Golde ◽  
M. Lopes-Cardozo
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Breakdown Product ◽  
Prolonged Storage ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Head Surface ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane

Seminolipid (sulphogalactosylalkylacylglycerol), the glycolipid that is specific for mammalian germ cells, is located exclusively in the outer leaflet of the sperm plasma membrane. In this study the lateral distribution of seminolipid on sperm heads has been investigated by indirect immunofluorescence labelling and detection with digital imaging fluorescence microscopy. In freshly ejaculated sperm cells this glycolipid was present primarily at the apical ridge subdomain of the plasma membrane of the sperm head. After binding the sperm cells to zona-coated coverslips seminolipid migrated, in 40 minutes, from the apical ridge to the equatorial subdomain of the plasma membrane. A similar redistribution of seminolipid was observed during capacitation of sperm cells in vitro induced by Ca2+ or bovine serum albumin. Comparable migration of seminolipid was also found after prolonged storage of ejaculated sperm cells, albeit at a much slower rate. Addition of arylsulphatase A, an enzyme present in seminal plasma that desulphates seminolipid, significantly enhanced the migration of seminolipid during storage of sperm cells. Its breakdown product desulphoseminolipid (galactosylalkylacylglycerol) appeared highly specifically at the equatorial segment. The measured fluorescence intensity over the sperm head surface correlated linearly with the spatial probe distribution as was checked by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. This paper demonstrates and quantifies for the first time the polarity of seminolipid on the surface of the sperm cell and the dynamic alterations that occur in this polarity during post-ejaculatory events.

Bicarbonate stimulated phospholipid scrambling induces cholesterol redistribution and enables cholesterol depletion in the sperm plasma membrane

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (19) ◽  
pp. 3543-3555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frits M. Flesch ◽  
Jos F. H. M. Brouwers ◽  
Patricia F. E. M. Nievelstein ◽  
Arie J. Verkleij ◽  
Lambert M. G. van Golde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cholesterol Efflux ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Depletion ◽  
Apical Surface ◽  
Epididymal Maturation ◽  
Head Surface ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane ◽  
Phospholipid Scrambling

Mammalian sperm cells are activated prior to fertilization by high bicarbonate levels, which facilitate lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux. The role of bicarbonate and cholesterol acceptors on the cholesterol organization in the sperm plasma membrane was tested. Bicarbonate induced an albumin-independent change in lipid architecture that was detectable by an increase in merocyanine staining (due to protein kinase A-mediated phospholipid scrambling). The response was limited to a subpopulation of viable sperm cells that were sorted from the non-responding subpopulation by flow cytometry. The responding cells had reduced cholesterol levels (30% reduction) compared with non-responding cells. The subpopulation differences were caused by variable efficiencies in epididymal maturation as judged by cell morphology. Membrane cholesterol organization was observed with filipin, which labeled the entire sperm surface of non-stimulated and non-responding cells, but labeled only the apical surface area of bicarbonate-responding cells. Addition of albumin caused cholesterol efflux, but only in bicarbonate-responding cells that exhibited virtually no filipin labeling in the sperm head area. Albumin had no effect on other lipid components, and no affinity for cholesterol in the absence of bicarbonate. Therefore, bicarbonate induces first a lateral redistribution in the low cholesterol containing spermatozoa, which in turn facilitates cholesterol extraction by albumin. A model is proposed in which phospholipid scrambling induces the formation of an apical membrane raft in the sperm head surface that enables albumin mediated efflux of cholesterol.

scholarly journals Glycolipid migration from the apical to the equatorial subdomains of the sperm head plasma membrane precedes the acrosome reaction. Evidence for a primary capacitation event in boar spermatozoa

1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 935-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Gadella ◽  
M. Lopes-Cardozo ◽  
L.M. van Golde ◽  
B. Colenbrander ◽  
T.W. Gadella
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Phase Segregation ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Lipid Phase ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging ◽  
Boar Spermatozoa

In order to extend the static information of immunolabelling sulphogalactolipids in fixed boar spermatozoa, a fluorescent sulphogalactolipid analogue, galactose(3-sulphate)-beta 1–1′[(N-lissamine rhodaminyl)-12-aminodode-canoyl]-sphingosine, was incorporated into plasma membranes of living spermatozoa and its lateral distribution over the sperm head was studied. The fluorescent lipid was enriched in the apical ridge subdomain of freshly ejaculated sperm cells. After sperm binding to the zona pellucida the lipid redistributed to the equatorial segment of the sperm surface. A similar shift occurred during capacitation in vitro with 2 mM CaCl2 or with 4% (w/v) bovine serum albumin. The desulphated derivative galactose-beta 1–1′[(N-lissamine rhodaminyl)-12-aminododecanoyl]-sphingosine was also incorporated into the plasma membrane of freshly ejaculated sperm cells and clearly stained the apical ridge subdomain and the (pre)-equatorial subdomains of the sperm heads. The desulphogalactolipid analogue showed a slightly faster migration to the equatorial segment of the sperm plasma membrane than did its sulphated counterpart. The measured fluorescence intensity distributions correlated linearly with the spatial probe distribution, which was checked by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The observed migration of the incorporated glycolipids precedes the acrosome reaction and is one of the underlying molecular events likely to be important in the process of sperm capacitation. The results of this study suggest that lipid phase segregation is an important driving force for the organization of the sperm head plasma membrane into subdomains.

scholarly journals Update on mammalian sperm capacitation: how much does the horse differ from other species?

Reproduction ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. R181-R197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Leemans ◽  
Tom A E Stout ◽  
Catharina De Schauwer ◽  
Sonia Heras ◽  
Hilde Nelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Depletion ◽  
Sperm Capacitation ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane ◽  
Species Specific

In contrast to various other mammalian species, conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) with horse gametes is not reliably successful. In particular, stallion spermatozoa fails to penetrate the zona pellucida, most likely due to incomplete activation of stallion spermatozoa (capacitation) under in vitro conditions. In other mammalian species, specific capacitation triggers have been described; unfortunately, none of these is able to induce full capacitation in stallion spermatozoa. Nevertheless, knowledge of capacitation pathways and their molecular triggers might improve our understanding of capacitation-related events observed in stallion sperm. When sperm cells are exposed to appropriate capacitation triggers, several molecular and biochemical changes should be induced in the sperm plasma membrane and cytoplasm. At the level of the sperm plasma membrane, (1) an increase in membrane fluidity, (2) cholesterol depletion and (3) lipid raft aggregation should occur consecutively; the cytoplasmic changes consist of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and elevated pH, cAMP and Ca2+ concentrations. These capacitation-related events enable the switch from progressive to hyperactivated motility of the sperm cells, and the induction of the acrosome reaction. These final capacitation triggers are indispensable for sperm cells to migrate through the viscous oviductal environment, penetrate the cumulus cells and zona pellucida and, finally, fuse with the oolemma. This review will focus on molecular aspects of sperm capacitation and known triggers in various mammalian species. Similarities and differences with the horse will be highlighted to improve our understanding of equine sperm capacitation/fertilizing events.

The capacitating agent bicarbonate induces protein kinase A-dependent changes in phospholipid transbilayer behavior in the sperm plasma membrane

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (11) ◽  
pp. 2407-2420 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Gadella ◽  
R.A. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Lipid ◽  
Lipid Disorder ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Flow Cytometric ◽  
Merocyanine 540 ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Boar Spermatozoa

A flow cytometric procedure was used to follow the effect of bicarbonate, a key inducer of sperm capacitation in vitro, on the transbilayer behavior of C6NBD-phospholipids in the plasma membrane of living acrosome-intact boar spermatozoa under physiological conditions. In the absence of bicarbonate, 97% of C6NBD-phosphatidylserine and 78% of C6NBD-phosphatidylethanolamine was rapidly translocated from the outer leaflet to the inner, whereas relatively little C6NBD-phosphatidylcholine and C6NBD-sphingomyelin was translocated (15% and 5%, respectively). Inclusion of 15 mM bicarbonate/5%CO(2) markedly slowed down the rates of translocation of the aminophospholipids without altering their final distribution, whereas it increased the proportions of C6NBD-phosphatidylcholine and C6NBD-sphingomyelin translocated (30% and 20%, respectively). Bicarbonate activated very markedly the outward translocation of all four phospholipid classes. The changes in C6NBD-phospholipid behavior were accompanied by increased membrane lipid disorder as detected by merocyanine 540, and also by increased potential for phospholipase catabolism of the C6NBD-phospholipid probes. All three changes were mediated via a cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation pathway. We suspect that the changes result from an activation of the non- specific bidirectional translocase ('scramblase'). They have important implications with respect to sperm fertilizing function.

187 EXPLOITATION OF IN VITRO CAPACITATION FOR NANOPARTICLE INCORPORATION WITHIN MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 224
Author(s):  
L. Myles ◽  
C. Durfey ◽  
P. Ryan ◽  
S. Willard ◽  
J. Feugang
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Surface Membrane ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Noninvasive Evaluation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane

Migration and interactions of mammalian gametes occur in deep body tissues after mating, rendering difficult any in situ noninvasive evaluation of their performances with current methods. In our effort to develop an effective and real-time in vivo imaging approach, we have successfully labelled porcine gametes with self-illuminating bioluminescent and red-shifted quantum dot nanoparticles (QD) in our previous studies (Feugang et al. 2012 J. Nanobiotechnol. 10, 45; Feugang et al. 2015, J. Nanobiotechnol. 13, 38). The present effort aimed at investigating whether QD could be incorporated into spermatozoa through induced in vitro capacitation, which increases sperm plasma membrane fluidity. Fresh extended boar semen was placed on top of a Percoll gradient and centrifuged. Purified motile spermatozoa were collected and washed with pre-warmed PBS. Pelleted spermatozoa were resuspended in the modified Tris-buffered medium with BSA fraction-V (1 mg mL–1; modified Tween medium B with milk powder and BSA). Sperm aliquots (108) were supplemented or not (control) with QD only (QD+; 1 nM), QD+caffeine (2 mM), or QD+heparin (10 µg mL–1); with caffeine and heparin being used as routine capacitant agents in fertilization media. All aliquots were incubated at 38.5°C, under 5% CO2 for 0.5, 1, or 3 h. Spermatozoa were then analysed for motility characteristics and imaged for confirmation of QD-sperm interactions (bioluminescence emission) and localization (transmission electron microscope; TEM). Motility data of 5 replicates were analysed with ANOVA-2, and P < 0.05 was set as threshold of significance. Total sperm motility (TSM) significantly improved with the presence of either or both QDs and capacitant agents after 0.5 and 1 h incubations. With exception of the QD+heparin, all other groups had significantly decreased TSM after 3 h of incubation, when compared with TSM at 0.5 and 1 h. Higher proportions of progressive and rapid (≥45 µm s–1) spermatozoa were observed in the presence of both capacitant agents (P < 0.05), and only QD+heparin maintained greater proportions after 3 h. Sperm straight-line velocity significantly increased in the QD+caffeine at 0.5 h and in both QD+caffeine and QD+heparin thereafter. Sperm straightness data were increased by both caffeine and heparin during incubations. Strong bioluminescence signals were observed in spermatozoa incubated with QDs compared to the background signal seen in the control group. The TEM images revealed consistent surface membrane attachment of QDs in all QD+ groups, whereas transmembrane and intra-spermatic localizations were visible in both QD+caffeine and QD+heparin groups. We concluded that supplementations of medium containing QDs with caffeine or heparin allow the crossing of sperm plasma membrane by QD. No toxic effect of QD on sperm motility was observed, which confirmed our previous report using a similar ratio of QDs over spermatozoa. Exploration of efficient incorporation of QD into spermatozoa as a promising approach for noninvasive molecular imaging is still ongoing, as well as further sperm viability assessments. Supported by the NIH grant #5T35OD010432 and USDA-ARS Biophotonics Initiative grant #58–6402–3-0120.

Isolation of egg cells and zygotes of Torenia fournieri L. and determination of their surface charge

Zygote ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.H. Chen ◽  
Y.H. Yang ◽  
J.P. Liao ◽  
A.X. Kuang ◽  
H.Q. Tian
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Enzymatic Digestion ◽  
Egg Cell ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Torenia Fournieri ◽  
Successful Isolation

SummaryEgg cells of Torenia fournieri were isolated from embryo sacs 1 day after anthesis using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissection. About 5% of the egg cells and zygotes (2–3 from 50 ovules) could be mechanically dissected within 2 h. When 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% pectinase were added to the mannitol isolation solution, about 18% of the egg cells (8–10 from 50 ovules) could be isolated within 2 h. The egg cells isolated by mechanical dissection could be used for in vitro fertilization studies without any of the potentially deleterious effects of the enzymes on the plasma membrane of egg cell. The egg cells isolated using enzymatic digestion could be used in the study of the molecular biology of female gamete because more egg cells could be isolated with this technique. Using enzymatic digestion, over 10 zygotes from 50 ovules (over 20%) were isolated from the pollinated ovules. Coupled with our successful isolation of mature sperm cells, the isolation of egg cells of T. fournieri will make in vitro fertilization possible in a dicotyledon plant.

scholarly journals StarD5: an ER stress protein regulates plasma membrane and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Rodriguez-Agudo ◽  
Leonel Malacrida ◽  
Genta Kakiyama ◽  
Tavis Sparrer ◽  
Carolina Fortes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Cholesterol Content ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging ◽  
Lipid Transfer ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Intracellular Cholesterol

How plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol is controlled is poorly understood. Ablation of the gene encoding the ER stress steroidogenic acute regulatory-related lipid transfer domain (StarD)5 leads to a decrease in PM cholesterol content, a decrease in cholesterol efflux, and an increase in intracellular neutral lipid accumulation in macrophages, the major cell type that expresses StarD5. ER stress increases StarD5 expression in mouse hepatocytes, which results in an increase in accessible PM cholesterol in WT but not in StarD5−/− hepatocytes. StarD5−/− mice store higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, which leads to altered expression of cholesterol-regulated genes. In vitro, a recombinant GST-StarD5 protein transfers cholesterol between synthetic liposomes. StarD5 overexpression leads to a marked increase in PM cholesterol. Phasor analysis of 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy data revealed an increase in PM fluidity in StarD5−/− macrophages. Taken together, these studies show that StarD5 is a stress-responsive protein that regulates PM cholesterol and intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase of sea urchin spermatozoa.

1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
G E Ward ◽  
G W Moy ◽  
V D Vacquier
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Guanylate Cyclase ◽  
Ammonium Hydroxide ◽  
Arbacia Punctulata ◽  
Direct Demonstration ◽  
Seawater Ph ◽  
Sperm Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Bound

When Arbacia punctulata spermatozoa are incubated in seawater containing ammonium hydroxide (pH 8.8), the sperm plasma membrane-bound guanylate cyclase is dephosphorylated, its electrophoretic mobility increases (from an apparent molecular mass of 160 to 150 kD), and its enzymatic activity decreases 3.5-fold. Transfer of these cells into ammonium-free seawater (pH 7.4) results in the rephosphorylation of the cyclase, its reconversion to 160 kD, and recovery of the enzymatic activity lost upon dephosphorylation. This is the first direct demonstration that the activity of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase can be regulated by phosphorylation. A plasma membrane preparation is described that specifically supports the in vitro phosphorylation of the guanylate cyclase. This preparation will be useful in more detailed studies on the relationship between phosphorylation state and enzymatic activity of membrane-bound guanylate cyclase.

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