Distribution of terminal sugar residues in the testis of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 524 - 530
• Main Authors: Liguoro, Annamaria, Prisco, Marina, Mennella, Clotilde, Ricchiari, Loredana, Angelini, Francesco, Andreuccetti, Piero
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-08-2004; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates - analysis; cartilaginous fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Lectins; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Sertoli and Leydig cells; Sexual Maturation; spermatogenesis; Testis - chemistry; Testis - cytology; Torpedo; Torpedo - physiology; Torpedo marmorata; Vertebrates: reproduction; Sertoli cell; Lectin; Spermatozoa; Spermatogenesis; Torpedo marmorata; Glycosylation; Binding site; Germinal cell; Testicle; Male genital system; Leydig cell; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Pisces; Localization
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20112

Lectins represent a class of proteins/glycoproteins binding specifically to terminal sugar residues. The present investigation aims to identify lectin‐binding sites in testis of Torpedo marmorata. Using a panel of lectins coupled with fluoresceine isothiocyanate, we demonstrated that germ and somatic cells present in Torpedo testis contain glycoconjugates, whose distribution at the level of the surface, the cytoplasm and the nucleus changes during germ cell differentiation. Moreover our observations demonstrate that the germ cells undergoing apoptosis (Prisco et al., 2003a: Mol Reprod Dev 64:341–348) overexpress a residual sugar recognised by WFA lectin that can be considered a specific marker for apoptotic germ cells. Finally, our results indicate that there is a progressive increase in glycosilation during spermatogenesis, especially at the level of the acrosome in the spermatocyte‐spermatid step, and that Leydig cells are differently stained in relation to the spermatogenetic cycle. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 524–530, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.