Distribution of intramembranous particles and filipin-sterol complexes in mouse sperm membranes: polyene antibiotic filipin treatment. 1985

K Toshimori, and R Higashi, and C Oura

The distribution of intramembranous particles (IMPs) and membrane filipin-sterol complexes (FSC) was examined ultrastructurally in mouse spermatozoa from the male reproductive tract and ejaculates. IMPs were qualitatively analyzed on freeze-fracture replicas of glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue, while membrane FSC were quantitatively analyzed on replicas of filipin-treated cells. The distribution pattern of IMPs of mouse spermatozoa was fundamentally similar to that of other mammalian spermatozoa. 1) In the head, the plasma membrane had a heterogeneous population density, e.g., few IMPs on the acrosomal region, particularly few on the marginal segment, and somewhat regularly arranged IMPs on the postacrosomal region. The acrosomal membrane had many IMPs in hexagonal arrays. The nuclear membrane had many IMPs on the P-face, few IMPs on the variegated E-face, and an intense population density on the P-face of the basal plate. 2) In the neck, the plasma membrane had many IMPs with square arrangements of small IMPs in some areas on the P-face; the redundant nuclear membrane had a few IMPs on both P- and E-faces. 3) In the tail, the plasma membrane had diagonal rows of IMPs in some areas amongst larger IMPs on the middle piece, while it had "zippers" composed of IMPs running parallel to the axis on the principal piece. The distribution of sperm membrane FSC may be summarized as follows: 1) In the head, the acrosomal plasma membrane, which was heavily labeled with filipin, had much more FSC in the equatorial segment than in the marginal segment throughout the study. The postacrosomal plasma membrane generally had no FSC, but some sperm in ejaculates were slightly positive to filipin. The acrosomal membranes (both outer and inner) had no FSC. The nuclear membrane in the main part of the head had less FSC in vas deferens and ejaculated sperm than in the epididymal sperm. The nuclear membrane on the basal plate had no FSC. 2) In the neck, the plasma membrane had little FSC. The redundant nuclear envelope had scattered FSC with a higher incidence in the epididymal sperm than in those from the vas deferens and ejaculates. The membrane scroll, which was elongated from the extreme caudal end of the redundant nuclear envelope, had abundant FSC in the vas deferens and ejaculated sperm. 3) The tail plasma membrane (both middle and principal piece), which was weakly labeled with filipin, had less FSC in sperm from the vas deferens and ejaculates than in those from the epididymis. The limiting membrane covering the mitochondria had no FSC.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009685 Nuclear Envelope The membrane system of the CELL NUCLEUS that surrounds the nucleoplasm. It consists of two concentric membranes separated by the perinuclear space. The structures of the envelope where it opens to the cytoplasm are called the nuclear pores (NUCLEAR PORE). Nuclear Membrane,Envelope, Nuclear,Envelopes, Nuclear,Membrane, Nuclear,Membranes, Nuclear,Nuclear Envelopes,Nuclear Membranes
D011090 Polyenes Hydrocarbons with more than one double bond. They are a reduced form of POLYYNES. Cumulenes
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D005372 Filipin A complex of polyene antibiotics obtained from Streptomyces filipinensis. Filipin III alters membrane function by interfering with membrane sterols, inhibits mitochondrial respiration, and is proposed as an antifungal agent. Filipins I, II, and IV are less important. Filipin III,Desoxylagosin,Filimarisin,Filipin I,Filipin II,Filipin IV,NSC-3364,U-5956,NSC 3364,NSC3364,U 5956,U5956
D005614 Freeze Fracturing Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica. Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D000177 Acrosome The cap-like structure covering the anterior portion of SPERM HEAD. Acrosome, derived from LYSOSOMES, is a membrane-bound organelle that contains the required hydrolytic and proteolytic enzymes necessary for sperm penetration of the egg in FERTILIZATION. Acrosomes
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013094 Spermatozoa Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility. Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms

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