Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (19)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Haidl, G.
Right arrow Articles by Opper, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Haidl, G.
Right arrow Articles by Opper, C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 2720-2723, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press

ARTICLES

Changes in lipids and membrane anisotropy in human spermatozoa during epididymal maturation

G Haidl and C Opper
Department of Dermatology/Andrology, University of Bonn, Germany.

Previously it was demonstrated that immature and immotile human spermatozoa from the caput epididymides developed a good progressive motility after in-vitro stimulation with phosphatidylcholine (PC). In order to define the role of PC and membrane anisotropy in epididymal maturation and to determine the exact lipid composition of human spermatozoa during epididymal maturation, spermatozoa from seven epididymides from patients who underwent orchiectomy because of prostatic cancer were investigated. Lipids were determined by high- performance thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. Membrane anisotropy was measured by fluorescence polarization. The ratio between PC and phosphatidylserine (PS) plus phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) plus sphingomyelin (SM) was significantly higher in spermatozoa from the cauda compared to those from the caput and corpus. This was due to an increase of PC and a decrease of the concentration of PS plus PE plus SM. With regard to fatty acids, those with saturated chains predominated in caput spermatozoa while the highest concentration of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids was in cauda spermatozoa. A lower membrane anisotropy of cauda spermatozoa compared with caput or corpus spermatozoa was found. In conclusion, during epididymal maturation human spermatozoa integrate lipids, particularly PC, which is strongly associated with the induction of progressive motility. A change in the pattern of fatty acids and a decrease in the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio cause a decrease in membrane anisotropy in cauda spermatozoa.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Mol Hum ReprodHome page
C. Legare, M. Thabet, J.-L. Gatti, and R. Sullivan
HE1/NPC2 status in human reproductive tract and ejaculated spermatozoa: consequence of vasectomy
Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2006; 12(7): 461 - 468.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
H. Rejraji, B. Sion, G. Prensier, M. Carreras, C. Motta, J.-M. Frenoux, E. Vericel, G. Grizard, P. Vernet, and J. R. Drevet
Lipid Remodeling of Murine Epididymosomes and Spermatozoa During Epididymal Maturation
Biol Reprod, June 1, 2006; 74(6): 1104 - 1113.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Mol EndocrinolHome page
J-M Frenoux, P Vernet, D H Volle, A Britan, F Saez, A Kocer, J Henry-Berger, D J Mangelsdorf, J-M A Lobaccaro, and J R Drevet
Nuclear oxysterol receptors, LXRs, are involved in the maintenance of mouse caput epididymidis structure and functions
J. Mol. Endocrinol., October 1, 2004; 33(2): 361 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J AndrolHome page
A. Force, J.-L. Viallard, F. Saez, G. Grizard, and D. Boucher
Electrophoretic Characterization of the Human Sperm-Specific Enolase at Different Stages of Maturation
J Androl, September 1, 2004; 25(5): 824 - 829.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
O. Kabbaj, S. R. Yoon, C. Holm, J. Rose, M. L. Vitale, and R.-M. Pelletier
Relationship of the Hormone-Sensitive Lipase-Mediated Modulation of Cholesterol Metabolism in Individual Compartments of the Testis to Serum Pituitary Hormone and Testosterone Concentrations in a Seasonal Breeder, the Mink (Mustela vison)
Biol Reprod, March 1, 2003; 68(3): 722 - 734.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
J. V. Abraham-Peskir, E. Chantler, E. Uggerhoj, and J. Fedder
Response of midpiece vesicles on human sperm to osmotic stress
Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2002; 17(2): 375 - 382.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
O. Kabbaj, C. Holm, M. L. Vitale, and R.-M. Pelletier
Expression, Activity, and Subcellular Localization of Testicular Hormone-Sensitive Lipase During Postnatal Development in the Guinea Pig
Biol Reprod, August 1, 2001; 65(2): 601 - 612.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Cell Sci.Home page
F. M. Flesch, J. F. H. M. Brouwers, P. F. E. M. Nievelstein, A. J. Verkleij, L. M. G. van Golde, B. Colenbrander, and B. M. Gadella
Bicarbonate stimulated phospholipid scrambling induces cholesterol redistribution and enables cholesterol depletion in the sperm plasma membrane
J. Cell Sci., January 10, 2001; 114(19): 3543 - 3555.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
M.N. Giraud, C. Motta, D. Boucher, and G. Grizard
Membrane fluidity predicts the outcome of cryopreservation of human spermatozoa
Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2000; 15(10): 2160 - 2164.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. Gergely, E. Kovanci, L. Senturk, E. Cosmi, L. Vigue, and G. Huszar
Morphometric assessment of mature and diminished-maturity human spermatozoa: sperm regions that reflect differences in maturity
Hum. Reprod., August 1, 1999; 14(8): 2007 - 2014.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.