This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Griffiths, G. S Articles by Martin-DeLeon, P. A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Griffiths, G. S Articles by Martin-DeLeon, P. A

Murine SPAM1 is secreted by the estrous uterus and oviduct in a form that can bind to sperm during capacitation: acquisition enhances hyaluronic acid-binding ability and cumulus dispersal efficiency

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 267 MKL, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to P A Martin-DeLeon; Email: pdeleon{at}udel.edu

Sperm uptake of epididymal sperm adhesion molecule 1 (SPAM1) in vitro has recently been shown to be a marker of sperm maturation, since acquisition of this surface hyaluronidase increases cumulus dispersal efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that this glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked sperm antigen, previously shown to be expressed during estrous in the female reproductive tract, is secreted in the uterine and oviductal fluids (ULF and OF respectively) in a 67 kDa form, which can bind to sperm. We show that it can be acquired by caudal sperm from Spam1 null, Spam1-deficient mutant, and wild-type (WT) mice in vitro during incubation in ULF or OF at 37 °C, as detected by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. SPAM1 binding after ULF incubation was localized predominantly to the acrosome and the mid-piece of the flagella of Spam1 null sperm in a pattern identical to that of WT sperm. After ULF incubation, WT sperm demonstrated a significantly (P<0.001) enhanced hyaluronic acid-binding ability, and the involvement of SPAM1 in this activity was shown by a significant (P<0.001) decrease in binding when sperm were exposed to SPAM1 antiserum-inhibited ULF. Importantly, when Spam1 null sperm were exposed to ULF with SPAM1 accessible (in the presence of pre-immune serum) or inaccessible (in the presence of SPAM1 antiserum) for uptake, there was a significant difference in cumulus dispersal efficiency. Taken together, these results suggest that in the sperm surface remodeling that occurs prior to and during capacitation, the fertilizing competence of sperm is increased via acquisition of SPAM1, and likely other hyaluronidases, from the female tract.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. S. Griffiths, D. S. Galileo, R. G. Aravindan, and P. A. Martin-DeLeon Clusterin Facilitates Exchange of Glycosyl Phosphatidylinositol-Linked SPAM1 Between Reproductive Luminal Fluids and Mouse and Human Sperm Membranes Biol Reprod, September 1, 2009; 81(3): 562 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Seita, S. Sugio, J. Ito, and N. Kashiwazaki Generation of Live Rats Produced by In Vitro Fertilization Using Cryopreserved Spermatozoa Biol Reprod, March 1, 2009; 80(3): 503 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]