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Role of microtubule-dependent membrane trafficking in acrosomal biogenesis

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Abstract

The role of microtubule-based trafficking in acrosomal biogenesis was examined by studying the effects of colchicine on spermiogenesis. In electron micrographs of untreated cap-phase mouse spermatids, coated vesicles were always seen on the apex and caudal margins of the developing acrosomal cap. The increase in volume and the accumulation of materials in the acrosome during the Golgi and cap phases were observed to occur via fusion of vesicles at various sites on the growing acrosome. By studying the acid phosphatase localization pattern and colchicine-treated spermatids, the role of clathrin-coated vesicles became clear. Coated vesicle formation at the caudal margin of the acrosome appeared to be responsible for the spreading and shaping of the acrosome over the surface of the nucleus and also established distinct regional differences in the acrosome. In colchicine-treated spermatids, the Golgi apparatus lost its typical membranous stack conformation and disintegrated into many small vesicles. Acrosome formation was retarded, and there was discordance of the spread of the acrosomal cap with that of the modified nuclear envelope. Many symplasts were also found because of the breakdown of intercellular bridges. Colchicine treatment thus indicated that microtubule-dependent trafficking of transport vesicles between the Golgi apparatus and the acrosome plays a vital role in acrosomal biogenesis. In addition, both anterograde and retrograde vesicle trafficking are extensively involved and seem to be equally important in acrosome formation.

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Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to our mentors Jia-Chyuan Chen and Hsiao-Hsu Jen for introducing us to the world of electron microscopy. We also thank Dr. Susan S. Suarez for critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Science, Institute of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan

    Wei-Pang Huang

  2. Department of Anatomy, Institute of Integrative Physiology and Clinical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan

    Han-Chen Ho

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  1. Wei-Pang Huang
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  2. Han-Chen Ho
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Correspondence to Han-Chen Ho.

Additional information

This work was supported by grants 83-0211-B-002-184 and 93-2320-B-320-012 from the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China.

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Huang, WP., Ho, HC. Role of microtubule-dependent membrane trafficking in acrosomal biogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 323, 495–503 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-005-0097-9

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