Activity of exoglycosidases in ejaculated spermatozoa of boar and bull

Zygote. 2004 May;12(2):105-9. doi: 10.1017/s0967199404002692.

Abstract

The activity of exoglycosidases in extracts from freshly ejaculated boar and bull spermatozoa with 0.2% Brij-35/2% acetic acid was measured. The results show that beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase and alpha-mannosidase are the major glycosidases; much higher levels of activity were found in boar spermatozoa than in bull spermatozoa. When compared on a per spermatozoon basis, the ratios of the activities of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, beta-galactosidase and alpha-mannosidase in boar spermatozoon relative to those in bull spermatozoon were approximately 13000:1, 1700:1 and 400:1, respectively. Liberation of these glycosidases from bull spermatozoa by treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) was low, in contrast to liberation of alpha-mannosidase from boar spermatozoa previously found by the same means. The possibility that the exoglycosidases present in large amounts in boar spermatozoa play a role in the process of binding to the zona pellucida glycoprotein of the egg is discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Ejaculation
  • Female
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase / pharmacology
  • Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C
  • Species Specificity
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / enzymology*
  • Swine
  • Zona Pellucida / metabolism
  • alpha-Mannosidase / metabolism
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C
  • Glycoside Hydrolases
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • alpha-Mannosidase
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
  • Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase