Abstract
The localization of carbonic anhydrase in the sperm storage regions of turkey and quail was investigated using a histochemical method showing the activity of all the isozymes present. Intense carbonic anhydrase activity was found in the turkey sperm storage tubules and infundibular storage glands, whereas no activity could be detected in the quail at these sites. Both species did, however, show strong membrane-bound and cytoplasmic activity in the non-ciliated cells of the utero-vaginal surface epithelium and scattered cells of the vaginal epithelium. The enzyme catalyses the reaction\({\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}+{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{O}} \leftrightarrow {\text{H}}^{\text{ + }}+{\text{HCO}}_{\text{3}}^ - \) , and the presence of carbonic anhydrase in these regions makes rapid changes in pH possible. It is suggested that increasing pH and/or the addition of bicarbonate stimulates sperm motility needed during transfer of the oviducal lumen. A lowering of the pH would keep the sperm qui escent during storage. The duration of sperm storage is considerably longer in the turkey than in the quail. The high quantity of carbonic anhydrase in the turkey sperm storage tubules may, thus, play a role in the duration of sperm storage.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aire, T.A. & Steinbach, J. (1976) Histochemical studies of the development of alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in the ovary and oviduct of the fowl (Gallus domesticus). Acta Anat. (Basel) 95, 207-17.
Allen, T.E. & Grigg, G.W. (1957) Sperm transport in the fowl. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 8, 788-99.
Anderson, J. (1942) The hydrogen-ion concentration of the semen of the bull. Science 32, 298-307.
Ashizawa, K. & Wishart, G.J. (1987) Resolution of the sperm motility-stimulating principle of fowl seminal plasma into Ca2+ and an unidentified low molecular weight factor. J. Reprod. Fertil. 81, 495-9.
Ashizawa, K. & Wishart, G.J. (1992) Factors from fluid of the ovarian pocket that stimulate sperm motility in domestic hens. J. Reprod. Fertil. 95, 855-60.
Ashizawa, K., Masazumi, S. & Okauchi, K. (1989) Stimulation of the motility and oxygen consumption of fowl spermatozoa by bicarbonate at 40°C. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 21, 301-8.
Ashizawa, K., Wishart, G.J., Nakao, H., Okino, Y. & Tsuzuki, Y. (1994) Inhibition of temperature-dependent immobilization of fowl spermatozoa at body temperature by an increased intracellular pH. J. Reprod. Fertil. 101, 593-8.
Au, C.L. & Wong, P.Y.D. (1980) Luminal acidification by the perfused rat cauda epididymis. J. Physiol. 309, 419-27.
Bakst, M.R. (1980) Chicken and turkey oviductal pH at known times postoviposition. Poult. Sci. 59, 2793-6.
Bakst, M.R. (1987) Anatomical basis of sperm-storage in the avian oviduct. Scanning Microsc. 1, 1257-66.
Bakst, M.R., Wishart, G. J. & Brillard, J.-P. (1994) Oviducal sperm selection, transport and storage in poultry. Poult. Sci. Rev. 5, 117-43.
Barna, J. & BoldizsÁr, H. (1996) Motility and agglutionation of fowl spermatoza in media of different amino acid content and pH value in vitro. Acta Vet. Hung. 44, 221-32.
Birkhead, T.R. (1994) Sperm storage and the release of sperm from the sperm storage tubules in Japanese quail Coturnix japonica. Ibis 136, 101-5.
Bobr, L.W., Lorenz, F.W. & Ogasawara, F.X. (1962) The role of the uterovaginal junction in storage of cock spermatozoa. Poult. Sci. 41, 1628.
Bogdonoff, JR, P.D. & Shaffner, C.S. (1954) The effect of pH on in vitro survival, metabolic activity and fertilizing capacity of chicken semen. Poult. Sci. 33, 665-9.
Brown, D. & Montesano, R. (1980) Membrane specialization in the rat epididymis. I. Rod-shaped intramembrane particles in the apical (mitochondria-rich) cell. J. Cell Sci. 45, 187-98.
Carr, D.W. & Acott, T.S. (1984) Inhibition of bovine spermatozoa by caudal epididymal fluid: I. Studies of a sperm motility quiescence factor. Biol. Reprod. 30, 913-25.
Christensen, V.L. (1981) Effect of insemination intervals on oviducal sperm storage in turkeys. Poult. Sci. 60, 2150-6.
Christensen, V.L. & Bagley, L.G. (1989) Efficacy of fertilization in artificially inseminated turkey hens. Poult. Sci. 68, 724-9.
Dobyan, D.C. & Bulger, R.E. (1982) Renal carbonic anhydrase. Am. J. Physiol. 243, F311-24.
Ekstedt E.&RidderstrÅle Y.1992 Histochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase in the testis and epididymis of the rabbit.ActaAnat.Basel143, 258-64
Ekstedt E. RidderstrÅle Y. PlÖenL.&RodriguezmartinezH.1991 Histochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase in the testis and epididymis of the boar.Acta Anat.(Basel)141, 257-61
Friess, A.E., Sinowatz, F., Wrobel, K.-H. & Scklekwinnisch, R. (1978) The uterovaginal sperm host glands of the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Cell Tissue Res. 191, 101-14.
Fuji i, S. & Tamura, T. (1963) Location of sperms in the oviduct of the domestic fowl with special reference to storage of sperms in the vaginal gland. J. Fac. Fish. Anim. Husb. (Hiroshima Univ.) 5, 145-63.
Holm, L., RidderstrÅle, Y. & Knutsson, P.-G. (1996) Localisation of carbonic anhydrase in the sperm storing regions of the domestic hen oviduct. Acta Anat. 156, 253-60.
Karnovsky, M.J. (1965) A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolarity for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A.
Kuryl, J. (1982) Carbonic anhydrase activity in the membrane and contents of the ovarian follicles and oviduct mucosa of hens. Acta Physiol. Pol. 33, 279-85.
Levine, N. & Kelly, L. (1978) Measurement of pH in the rat epididymis in vivo. J. Reprod. Fertil. 52, 333-5.
Ogasawara, F.X., Van Krey, H.P. & Lorenz, F.W. (1964) Hydrogen ion concentration of the oviduct of the laying domestic fowl. Poult. Sci. 43, 3-6.
Pinto, O., Amir, D., Schindler, H. & Hurwitz, S. (1984) Effect of pH on the metabolism and fertility of turkey spermatozoa. J. Reprod. Fertil. 70, 437-42.
Renden, J.A., May, E.B. & Benoff, F.H. (1981) Histochemistry of uterovaginal sperm-host glands in japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with reference to the period of oviposition. Poult. Sci. 60, 2529-35.
RidderstrÅle, Y. (1976) Intracellular localization of carbonic anhydrase in the frog nephron. Acta Physiol. Scand. 98, 465-9.
RidderstrÅle, Y. (1991) Localization of carbonic anhydrase by chemical reactions. In The Carbonic Anhydrases. Cellular Physiology and Molecular Genetics (edited by Dodgson, S.J., Tashian, R.E., Gros G. & Carter, N.D. ), pp. 133-44. New York and London: Plenum Press.
Rodriguez-Martinez, H., Ekstedt, E. & Einarsson, S. (1990) Acidification of the epididymal fluid in the boar. Int. J. Androl. 13, 238-43.
Rodriguez-Martinez, H., Ekstedt, E. & RidderstrÅ le, Y. (1991) Histochemical localisation of carbonic anhydrase in the female genitalia of pigs during the oestrous cycle. Acta Anat. 140, 41-7.
Sexton, T. J. & Giesen, A.F. (1982) Beltsville poultry semen extender. 6. Holding turkey semen for six hours at 15°C. Poult. Sci. 61, 1202-8.
Sinowatz, V.F., Wrobel, K.-H. & Friess, A. (1976) Zür Carbonic anhydrase and sperm storage in turkey and quail 487 Histotopochemie der Uterovaginalregion bei der Wachtel (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Acta Histochem. 57, 55-67.
Terada, T., Ashizawa, K. & Watanabe, M. (1981) Effects of pH on the motility and metabolism of cock spermatozoa. Jpn. Poult. Sci. 18, 40-4.
Van Drimmelen, G.C. (1945) The location of spermatozoa in the hen by means of capillary attraction. J. S. Afr. Vet. Med. Assoc. 16, 97-101.
Verma, O.P. & Cherms, F.L. (1965) The appearance of sperm and their persistency in storage tubules of turkey hens after a single insemination. Poult. Sci. 44, 609-13.
Wishart, G.J. (1982) Maintenance of ATP concentrations in and of fertilizing ability of fowl and turkey spermatozoa in vitro. J. Reprod. Fertil. 66, 457-62.
Wishart, G.J. (1984) The effect of anoxia on fowl spermatozoa: recovery of fertilizing ability, motility and cellular concentrations of potassium and ATP. Gamete Res. 10, 83-9.
Wishart, G.J. & Ashizawa, K. (1987) Regulation of the motility of fowl spermatozoa by calcium and cAMP. J. Reprod. Fertil. 80, 607-11.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holm, L., Ridderstråale, Y. Localization of Carbonic Anhydrase in the Sperm-storing Regions of the Turkey and Quail Oviduct. Histochem J 30, 481–488 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003247504288
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003247504288