Localization of Cholesteryl Sulfate in Human Spermatozoa in Support of a Hypothesis for the Mechanism of Capacitation

Cholesteryl sulfate is a normal constituent of human spermatozoa. The in vitro uptake of tritiated cholesteryl sulfate resulted in the labeling of all spermatozoa as demonstrated by light-microscope radioautography. The binding of the sterol sulfate was localized mainly in the head and midpiece. Rad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1981-12, Vol.78 (12), p.7266-7270
Main Authors: Langlais, J., Zollinger, M., Plante, L., Chapdelaine, A., Bleau, G., Roberts, K. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrosomes
Albumins
Autoradiography
Biochemistry
Cell membranes
Cholesterol Esters - physiology
Cholesterols
Humans
Male
Membrane Lipids - physiology
P branes
Sperm Capacitation
Sperm Head - metabolism
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - physiology
Spermatozoa - ultrastructure
Sterols
Steryl-Sulfatase
Sulfatases - metabolism
Sulfates
Surface areas
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Summary:Cholesteryl sulfate is a normal constituent of human spermatozoa. The in vitro uptake of tritiated cholesteryl sulfate resulted in the labeling of all spermatozoa as demonstrated by light-microscope radioautography. The binding of the sterol sulfate was localized mainly in the head and midpiece. Radioautography at the level of the electron microscope revealed that the sterol sulfate is localized on the plasma membrane, mostly in the region of the acrosome. Further proof for this localization was obtained by selective dissolution of the plasma membrane and acrosome of the spermatozoa with low concentrations of Triton X-100. This treatment resulted in the simultaneous removal of tritiated cholesteryl sulfate bound to the spermatozoa. A hypothesis is presented concerning the role of cholesteryl sulfate as a membrane stabilizer and enzyme inhibitor during the maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis. According to this hypothesis, the cleavage of the sulfate moiety within the female reproductive tract triggers a cascade of events leading to sperm capacitation and fertilization.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.78.12.7266