Maturation of sperm volume regulation in the rat epididymis.

Damm OS, Cooper TG

Research article (journal)

Abstract

Sperm maturation in the epididymis may involve differences between mature and immature spermatozoa in their volume regulatory osmolyte response. Spermatozoa obtained from the rat caput and cauda epididymidis were examined for their ability to regulate volume after transfer from in situ epididymal osmolality (measured to be 343 +/- 13 and 365 +/- 19 mmol kg(-1), respectively) to that of the female tract in single- and multiple-step protocols. Cells withstood the single-step treatment better than the multistep protocol. Sperm volume estimates by flow cytometric measurements of forward scatter of cells with intact head membranes was more sensitive than those by assessing cell coiling microscopically. At osmolalites below 210 mmol kg(-1) both caput and cauda cells ruptured, limiting the use of flow cytometry. Above this critical value, the use of quinine showed that both caput and cauda cells could regulate volume, but cauda cells were the more effective. Of several organic osmolytes studied, myo-inositol, glutamate and KCl caused only temporary and slight swelling of spermatozoa cells in hypotonic medium. Spermatozoa of both maturities seemed to use potassium as the preferred osmolyte for regulating volume.

Details about the publication

JournalAsian Journal of Andrology (Asian J Androl)
Volume12
Issue4
Page range578-590
StatusPublished
Release year2010
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
KeywordsGlutamic Acid; Rats; Epididymis; Inositol; Osmolar Concentration; Rats Sprague-Dawley; Cell Size; Spermatozoa; Male; Animals; Female; Sperm Maturation; Potassium Chloride; Flow Cytometry; Glutamic Acid; Rats; Epididymis; Inositol; Osmolar Concentration; Rats Sprague-Dawley; Cell Size; Spermatozoa; Male; Animals; Female; Sperm Maturation; Potassium Chloride; Flow Cytometry

Authors from the University of Münster

Cooper, Trevor
Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology
Damm, Oliver
Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology