Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Histochemical study of glycoconjugates in the epididymis of the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

  • Papers
  • Published:
The Histochemical Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The glycoconjugates of hamster epididymis were investigated with conventional and lectin histochemistry. A zone of the caput epididymis, with particular histochemical characteristics, has been differentiated. β-Elimination in combination with lectins was used to establish the presence and distribution of N- and O-linked glycoconjugates. The epithelium, spermatozoa and the intertubular matrix were rich in glycoconjugates. The Golgi apparatus and stereocilia of the principal cells were intensely positive with HPA, PNA and SBA lectins. β-limination indicated that these cells contained abundant O-linked glycoconjugates. Apical and clear cells presented a common lectin affinity; their reactivities towards WGA and UEA-I were very positive. These cells probably contain abundant N-glycoconjugates. The spermatozoa were stained by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and by all the lectins (especially in the acrosome), except by those with an affinity for α-l-fucosyl residues; the most intense reaction was found with HPA, WGA, PNA and SBA. Changes in the sperm lectin binding along the ductus were observed: sperm flagellum abruptly acquired WGA and PNA labelling from the posterior caput, and HPA reactivity was negative only in the zone between the caput and the corpus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • abou-Aila, a. & fain-Maurel, m. (1984) Regional differences of the proximal part of mouse epididymis: morphological and histochemical characterization. Anat. Rec. 209, 197–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • ahuja, k. k. (1985) Fertilization studies in the hamster. The role of cell-surface carbohydrates. Exp. Cell Res. 140, 353–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • arya, M. & vanha-Perttula, T. (1984) Distribution of lectin binding in rat testis and epididymis. Andrologia, 16, 495–508.

  • arya, m. & vanha-Perttula, t. (1985) Lectin-binding pattern of bull testis and epididymis. J. Androl. 6, 230–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • arya, m. & vanha-Perttula, t. (1986) Comparison of lectin-staining pattern in testis and epididymis of gerbil, guinea pig, mouse and nutria. Am. J. Anat. 175, 449–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • burkett, b. n., schulte, b. a. & spicer, s. s. (1987a) Histochemical evaluation of glycoconjugates in the male reproductive tract with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates: I. Staining of principal cells and spermatozoa in the mouse. Am. J. Anat. 178, 11–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • burkett, b. n., schulte, b. a. & spicer, s. s. (1987b) Histochemical evaluation of glycoconjugates in the male reproductive tract with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates: I. Staining of ciliated cells, basal cells, flask cells, and clear cells in the mouse. Am. J. Anat. 178, 23–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • cohen, p. j., hoffer, a. p. & rosen, s. (1976) Carbonic anhydrase localization in the epididymis and testis of the rat: histochemical and biochemical analysis. Biol. Reprod. 14, 339–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • dacheux, j. l., chevrier, c., dacheux, f., jeulin, c., gatti, j. l., pariset, c. & paquignon, m. (1990) Sperm biochemical changes during epididymal maturation. In Gamete Interaction: Prospects for Immunocontraception (edited by nieschlag, e.) 111–128. New York: Wiley-Liss Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • delongeas, j. l. & gelly, j. l. (1985) Differentiation of the rat epididymis after withdrawl of androgen. Cell Tissue Res. 241, 657–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • faye, j. c., duguet, m., mazzuca, m. & bayard, f. (1980) Purification, radioimmunoassay, and immunohistochemical localization of a glycoprotein produced by the rat epididymis. Biol. Reprod. 23, 423–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • feuchter, f. a., green, m. f. & tabet, a. j. (1987) Maturation antigen of the mouse sperm flagellum: II. Origin from holocrine cells of the distal caput epididymis. Anat. Rec. 217, 146–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • feuchter, f. a., tabet, a. j. & green, m. f. (1988) Maturation antigen of the mouse sperm flagellum. I. Analysis of its secretion, association with sperm, and function. Anat. Rec. 181, 67–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • flickinger, c. j., howards, s. s. & english, h. f. (1978) Ultrastructural differences in the efferent ducts and several regions of the epididymis of the hamster. Am. J. Anat. 152, 557–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • friess, a. e. & sinowatz, f. (1984) Con-A- and WGA-binding sites on bovine epididymal spermatozoa: TEM of specimens in toto. Biol. Cell 50, 279–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • goyal, h. o. (1985) Morphology of the bovine epididymis. Am. J. Anat. 172, 155–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • goyal, h. o. & Williams, c. s. (1991) Regional differences in the morphology of the goat epididymis: a light microscopy and ultrastructural study. Am. J. Anat. 190, 349–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • hermo, l. & clermont, y. (1985) The role of clear epithelial cells of the epididymis of the rat in the disposal of cytoplasmic droplets derived from spermatozoa. J. Cell Biol. 101, 420–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • hermo, l., dworking, j. & oko, r. (1988) The role of epithelial clear cells of the epididymis of the rat in the disposal of cytoplasmic droplets detached from spermatozoa. Am. J. Anat. 183, 107–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • jones, r., brown, c. r. & lancaster, r. t. (1988) Carbohydrate-binding properties of boar sperm proacrosin and assessment of its role in sperm-egg recognition and adhesion during fertilization. Development 102, 781–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • jones, c. j. p., morrison, c. a. & stoddart, r. w. (1993) Histochemical analysis of rat testicular glycoconjugates. 3. Non-reducing terminal residues in seminiferous tubules. Histochem. J. 25, 711–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • lea, o. a., petrusz, p. & french, f. s. (1978) Purification and localization of acidic epididymal glycoprotein (AEG). A sperm coating protein secreted by rat epididymis. Int. J. Androl (suppl.) 2, 592–607.

    Google Scholar 

  • lee, m.Ch. & damjanov, i. (1984) Anatomic distribution of lectin-binding sites in mouse testis and epididymis. Differentiation 27, 74–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • liu, h.w., Wang, j.j., chao, c.-f. & muller, c. (1991) Identification of two maturation-related, wheat-germ-lectin-binding proteins on the surface of mouse sperm. Acta Anat. 142, 165–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • lópez, m. l., gribbel, i. & bustos - Obregon, e. (1989) Cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the stallion epididymis (Equus caballus). J. Submicr. Cytol. Path. 21, 103–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • mcmanus, j. f. a. (1946) Histologic demonstration of mucin after periodic acid. Nature 158, 202.

    Google Scholar 

  • malmi, r. & söderstrom, k. o. (1988) Lectin binding to rat spermatogenic cells: effects of different fixation methods and proteolytic enzyme treatment. Histochem. J. 20, 276–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • martínez-Menárguez, j. a., aviles, m., madrid, j. f., castells, m. t. & ballesta, j. (1993) Glycosylation in Golgi apparatus of early spermatids of rat. A high resolution lectin cytochemical study. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 61, 21–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • moore, h. d. (1980) Localization of specific glycoproteins secreted by the rabbit and hamster epididymis. Biol. Reprod. 22, 705–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • oke, b. o., aire, t. a., adeyemo, o. & heath, e. (1989) The ultrastructure of the epididymis of the african giant rat (Crycetomys gambianus, Waterhouse). J. Anat. 165, 75–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • olson, g. e. & danzo, b. j. (1981) Surface changes in rat spermatozoa during epididymal transit. Biol. Reprod. 24, 431–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • osawa, t. & tsuji, t. (1987) Fractionation and structural assessment of oligosaccharides and glycopeptides by use of immobilized lectins. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 56, 21–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • palacios, j., regadera, j., nistal, m. & pani-Agua, r. (1991) Apical mitochondria-rich cells in the human epididymis: an ultrastructural, enzymohistochemical, and immunohistochemical study. Anat. Rec. 231, 82–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • pearse, a. g. e. (1985) Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied, Vol 2, 4th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • phillips, d. m., jones, r. & shalghi, r. (1991) Alterations in distribution of surface and intracellular antigens during epididymal maturation of rat spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 29, 347–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • robaire, b. & hermo, l. (1988) Efferent ducts, epididymis, and vas deferens: structure, functions, and their regulation. In The Physiology of Reproduction (edited by knobil, e.) et al. New York: Raven Press, Ch. 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • roth, j. (1984) Cytochemical localization of terminal N-acetyl-d-galactosamine residues in cellular compartments of intestinal goblet cells: implications for the topology of O-glycosilation. J. Cell Biol 98, 394–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • skudlarek, m. d., tulsiani, d. r., nagdas, s. k. & orgebin-Crist, m.c. (1993) β-Galactosidase of rat spermatozoa: subcellular distribution, substrate specificity, and molecular changes during epididymal maturation. Biol. Reprod. 49, 204–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • söderstrom, k. o., malmi, r. & karjalainen, k. (1984) Binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated lectins to rat spermatogenic cells in tissue section. Enhancement of lectin fluorescence obtained by fixation in Bouin's fluid. Histochemistry 80, 475–579.

    Google Scholar 

  • spicer, s. s. (1965) Diamine methods for differentiating mucosubstances histochemically. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 3, 211–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • sun, e. l. & flickinger, c. j. (1982) Proliferative activity in the rat epididymis during postnatal development. Anal. Rec. 203, 273–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • toowicharanont, p. & chulavatnatol, m. (1983) Direct assay of bound sialic acids on rat spermatozoa from the caput and cauda epididymis. J. Reprod. Fert. 67, 275–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • toshimori, k., araki, s. & Öura, c. (1988) Masking of sperm maturation antigen by sialic acid in the epididymis of the mouse. Histochemistry 90, 195–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • toshimori, k., araki, s. & Öura, c. (1990) Cryptodeterminant of a sperm maturation antigen on the mouse flagellar surface. Biol. Reprod. 42, 151–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • tulsiani, d. r., skudlarek, m. d., holland, m. k. & orgebin-Crist, m.c. (1993) Glycosylation of rat sperm plasma membrane during epididymal maturation. Biol. Reprod. 48, 417–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • turner, t. t. (1984) Resorption versus secretion in the rat epididymis. J. Reprod. Fertil. 72, 509–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • voglmayr, j. k., sawyer, r. f. & dacheux, j. l. (1985) Glycoproteins: a variable factor in surface transformation of ram spermatozoa during epididymal transit. Biol. Reprod. 33, 165–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • zunke, v. u. & gossrau, r. (1981) Zur morphologie und zonengliederung des nebenhondenganges der ratte. Anal. Anzeiger Jena. 149, 409–24.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular Biology, Section of Histology and General Embryology, Medical School, University of Murcia, 30071, Murcia, Spain

    Alfonso Calvo, Luis M. Pastor, Ramon Horn & Jacinto Pallares

Authors
  1. Alfonso Calvo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luis M. Pastor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ramon Horn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jacinto Pallares
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Calvo, A., Pastor, L.M., Horn, R. et al. Histochemical study of glycoconjugates in the epididymis of the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Histochem J 27, 670–680 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216680

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216680

Keywords

Search

Navigation