The existence in the human spermatozoa membrane of receptorlike functional group for heparin was studied. Incubation whole with tritiated induced specific binding 745 +/- 112 pmol per 5 x 10(7) sperm cells an intrinsic association constant KD = 3.6 10(-6) M. specificity shown by lack competence process some other glycosaminoglycans used at concentrations 20 higher than heparin. However, dextran sulfate a very efficient competitive agent. Autoradiography experiments showed that labeling...

Decondensation of human spermatozoa nuclei has been induced by exposure intact to heparin, while the rabbit, ram, and bull remained highly condensed under similar experimental conditions. This process occurred in complete absence any disulfide bond cleaving reactant. Swelling commenced about 30 min after addition heparin depended on concentration reaching 83% swelled 6 hr. incubation with 5000 USP per ml. Addition 10 mg/ml trypsin soybean inhibitor did not interfere swelling action heparin....

Follicular fluid from different mammalian species possesses two factors responsible for the induction of capacitation: a sperm-stimulating factor and an acrosomal reaction-inducing factor. The glycosamineglycan-sulfate (GAGs) extracted pig follicular induce acrosome reaction in spermatozoa which exhibit no morphological difference between GAGs-induced natural one. Acrosomal commenced 30 min after addition GAGs depended on concentration reaching 80% reacted 6 hr incubation with 7 mg GAGs/ml....

Abstract It has been proposed that reduced glutathione (GSH) or other thiol reagents may partici pate in the basic mechanism by which sperm‐decondensing activity is accomplished. How ever, vitro, these seem to be inactive and require presence of chemi cals, usually detergents. Heparin binds specifically sperm membrane provokes decondensation human activation DNA transcription synthe sis. However, concentrations at effects occur higher than those expected under physiological conditions. In...

The determinations of the amino acid pools, including tryptophan (by fluorescence spectrometry), in arterial and venous blood mother, fetus (cord blood), amniotic fluid placenta was done eight women at moment delivery. Only nine acids (asp, try, met, phe, ser, cys, lys, gly, thr) were significantly retained four (arg, glu, pro glu-NH<sub>2</sub>) released by fetal tissues. In contrast with this behavior most maternal tissue, phe hist showing highest retention. When are grouped as...

The differential quantitative participation of apoptosis and necrosis in ewe antral follicles two different sizes, separated four stages atresia using macroscopic, histologic, esteroid quantification methods was assessed. Annexin V binding propidium iodide (PI) uptake used to detect healthy live cells (Annexin negative/PI negative), early apoptotic V+/PI-), necrotic or late (PI+). Additionally we internucleosomal DNA fragmentation as a estimate apoptosis. Presence distribution lysosomal...

Morphological observations of male genital tracts obtained from wild, adult Mexican big-eared bats (Corynorhinus mexicanus) revealed only one but long annual reproductive cycle showing the existence temporal asynchrony its functions, as is characteristic temperate-zone vespertilionid and rhinolophid chiropterans. Testes were largest in August, whereas maximum development epididymides accessory sex glands complex was observed 1 3 months later. High value relative body condition individuals...

Normal and pathological semen were studied with regard to cholesterol phospholipid content of sperm cells seminal plasma. Spermatozoa from pathologic have similar concentrations phospholipid-phosphorous significantly higher concentration than spermatozoa normal semen. However, only oligoasthenospermic showed a cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. Azoospermic plasma the lowest values both phospholipids, but ratio phospholipids was equal that in spermatozoa. No significant difference found...

Modifications of semen quality related to ejaculation frequency is one the most important and neglected factors from standpoint artificial insemination or sperm competition. New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) offer an advantageous experimental model because they have characteristic sexual behavior, present rapid after a single intromission, very short interval between successive ejaculations, can be easily collected. The authors studied modifications on (semen volume,...

Decondensation of mammalian epididymal spermatozoa nuclei has been induced by exposure intact to heparin, including those species in which ejaculated sperm were not susceptible this treatment. This process occurred the absence any disulfide bond cleaving reactant. Swelling caput commenced about 30 min after addition reaching 88% rat, 33% rabbit, 26% pig, and 62% bull swelled 6 hr incubation at 37 degrees C with 5000 USP heparin per ml. Corpus rat rabbit underwent decondensation 50 24% 22%...

We report the properties of a new sulthydryl reagent, N˙ (4-carboxy-3-hydroxy-phenyl) maleimide (NCPM), which forms photostable, covalent fluorescent adducts with organic compounds, proteins and biological membranes containing sulfhydryl groups. NCPM appears not to permeate cell and, since its reaction SH compounds is stoichiometric, permits quantitative assessment exposed functional groups on surface cells. Binding washed spermatozoa resulted in considerable increase fluorescence that was...

The addition of heparin to human sperm zinc-depleted nuclei releases DNA template restrictions. Spermatozoa depleted zinc were assayed for (3H-methyl), thymidine incorporation was observed (27,500 +/- 1,248 dpm 3H methyl-thymidine). Sperm cells incubated in the presence 10 mg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor shows no effect nuclear swelling or release This process runs a parallel fashion induced by heparin, suggesting that swollen might be source template. confirmed autoradiographic studies,...

We studied the activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes during epididymal spermatozoon maturation and storage in Corynorhinus mexicanus (G.M. Allen, 1916), a vespertilionid bat that stores spermatozoa epididymides for several months after regression testes. Depending on phase reproductive cycle, two different patterns antioxidant enzyme were observed C. mexicanus. Catalase activity is clearly present both caput cauda throughout entire annual being particularly high...