Changes in distribution of labile zinc in mouse spermatozoa during maturation in the epididymis assessed by the fluorophore Zinquin

• DOI: 10.1071/rd9961097
• Publication Date: 2005-10-19T01:28:39Z
• Authors: PD Zalewski; X Jian; LL Soon; WG Breed; RF Seamark; SF Lincoln; AD Ward; FZ Sun
• Keywords: Spermatid

The Zn(II)-specific fluorophore Zinquin was used to determine the regional distribution of free or loosely-bound Zn(II) in mouse spermatozoa. Spermatozoa from testes exhibited bright fluorescence over entire head; those caput epididymides generally fluoresced more brightly post-acrosomal region; and spermatozoa caudae less brightly, with foci sperm head which were lost after extraction Triton X-100 hence appeared be membrane-associated. Treatment cauda sodium dodecyl sulfate resulted a uniform heads, similar that observed sperm, indicating two types have amounts but availability for binding is different. By contrast, intensity tail different regions male reproductive tract largely unaffected by extraction, consistent an intracellular location. Similar differences between rat. It concluded visualization measurement subcellular compartments should facilitate investigation role this metal development function abnormalities might accompany infertility deficiency.