Lectin-Binding Pattern Changes on the Bovine Sperm After Differently Induced Process of Capacitation

Abstract

Sperm capacitation is a complex process that undergoes mature sperm to acquire the fertilization ability. For in vitro fertilization, cryopreserved sperm are rather used instead of freshly ejaculated sperm. It was proved that cryopreservation procedures induced capacitation-like changes in bull spermatozoa that are associated with a different profile of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins compared to freshly ejaculated sperm after capacitation. The plasma membrane destabilization and reorganization caused by cryopreservation are sufficient to trigger the signalling cascade associated with physiological capacitation. The differences in glycoprotein profile on sperm plasma membrane provoked by cryopreservation, can be study by the various lectin. The changing reaction patterns of PSA, LCA and mainly WGA lectin were observed after thawing of cryopreserved sperm and capacitation of freshly ejaculated sperm. Based on these results, WGA lectin seems to be a suitable for study of different glycoprotein distribution changes caused by cryopreservation procedure.