Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of the complex carbohydrates in the zona pellucida of mammalian oocytes using lectin histochemistry

  • Biochemistry
  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the glycoconjugates present in the zona pellucida of the follicular oocytes in sheep, goats and pigs. The zona pellucida was stained with periodic acid-Schiff, low iron diamine, high iron diamine, and nine different lectin horseradish conjugates: Con-A, SBA, DBA, PNA, RCA-I, GSA-II, WGA, LTA and UEA-I. Staining with DBA, PNA, SBA and RCA-I was performed with and without saponification with KOH and sialidase digestion. The results showed the presence of neutral and acidic glycoconjugates with different terminal sugars and also sialic acid radicals in the zona pellucida of all the animals studied. In particular, the positive staining with WGA, SBA, PNA and RCA-I suggests the presence of oligosaccharides with N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and sialic acid linked to the penultimate β-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine and to the disaccharide galactosyl-(β1-3)-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine. The terminal trisaccharide sialic acid galactosyl-(β1-4)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine was identified only in the zona pellucida of ovine and procine oocytes. Thus, the zona pellucida exhibited species-specific variations in the content and distribution of lectin-binding patterns that may reflect the species specificity of gamete interaction.

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

Abbreviations

HID:

high iron diamine

HRP:

horseradish peroxidase

LID:

low iron diamine

PAS:

periodic acid-Schiff

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline; see also Tables I and II

References

  • Bar-Shira Maymon, B., Maymon, R., Ben-Nun, I., Ghetler, Y., Shalgi, R. and Skutelsky, E., 1994. Distribution of carbohydrates in the zona pellucida of human oocytes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 102 81–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleil, J.D. and Wassarman, P.M., 1980. Mammalian sperm-egg interaction: identification of a glycoprotein in mouse egg zonae pellucidae possessing receptor activity for sperm. Cell, 20, 873–882

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleil, J.D., Beall, C.F. and Wassarman, P.M., 1981. Mammalian sperm-egg interaction: fertilization of mouse eggs triggers modification of the major zona pellucida glycoprotein, ZP2. Developmental Biology, 86, 189–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, B.S., Wardrip, N.J. and Hedrick, J.L., 1980. Isolation, physicochemical properties, and macromolecular composition of the zona pellucida from porcine oocytes. Biochemistry, 19, 356–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Parillo, F., Verini-Supplizi, A., Stradaioli, G., Tortora, G. and Monaci, M., 1994. Identificazione istochimica mediante lectine dei glicoconigati della zona pellucida di ovocellule di bovine sottoposte a trattamento supeerovulatorio. Acta Medica Veterinaria, 40, 215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, A.G.E., 1985. Histochemistry, 4th Edn., vol. II, (Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh), 740

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D.M. and Shalgi, R., 1980. Surface properties of the zona pellucida. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 213, 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulte, B.A. and Spicer, S.S., 1983. Light microscopic detection of sugar residues in glycoconjugates of salivary glands and the pancreas with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates. I. Mouse. Histochemical Journal, 15, 1217–1238

    Google Scholar 

  • Shalgi, R., Maymon, R., Bar-Shira Maymon, B., Amihai, D. and Skutelsky, E., 1991. Distribution of lectin receptor sites in the zona pellucida of follicular and ovulated rat oocytes. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 29, 365–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Skutelsky, E., Ranen, E. and Shalgi, R., 1994. Variations in the distribution of sugar residues in the zona pellucida as possible species-specific determinants of mammalian oocytes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 100, 35–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Soupart, P. and Noyes, R.W., 1964. Sialic acid as component of the zona pellucida of the mammalian ovum. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 8, 251–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadano, Y. and Yamada, K., 1978. The histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in the ovarian follicles of adult mice. Histochemistry, 57, 203–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Wassarman, P.M., 1988. Zona pellucida glycoproteins. Annual Reviews of Biochemistry, 57, 415–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, T.C., Lee, M.C., Wan, Y.J. and Damjanov, I., 1984. Lectin binding sites of the mouse ovary, intraovarian and ovulated ova. Histochemistry, 80, 527–533

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Anatomia Normale, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy

    F. Parillo & C. Dall'aglio

  2. Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy

    G. Stradaioli

  3. Produzioni Animali-, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy

    A. Verini-Supplizi

Authors
  1. F. Parillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Stradaioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Dall'aglio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Verini-Supplizi
    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

Parillo, F., Stradaioli, G., Dall'aglio, C. et al. Characterization of the complex carbohydrates in the zona pellucida of mammalian oocytes using lectin histochemistry. Veterinary Research Communications 20, 225–236 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366920

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366920

Keywords

Search

Navigation