Plasma membrane glycoproteins of mature and immature drone honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) spermatozoa: lectin-binding as seen by light and electron microscopy
Marti, J.I. | Cacho, E. del | Josa, A. | Espinosa, E. | Muino-Blanco, T.
Lectin binding is an accepted procedure for studying surface properties of gamete membranes. The procedure has not been widely used in invertebrates. Glycoproteins present on cell membranes in spermatozoa of Apis mellifera L. drones, may play a role in oocyte-spermatozoon recognition. We studied the distribution of the glycoproteins and changes in their composition associated with maturation of the drones, using lectin binding. Semen samples were collected from ejaculates and seminal vesicles of mature (n=100) and from seminal vesicles of immature (n=50) drones. After additional preparation, semen aliquots were incubated in a biotinylated solution with lectins Bauhinia purpurea (BPA), Canavalina ensiformis (ConA) and Arachis hypogea (PNA). Qualitative binding differences were observed with light and transmission electron microscopy. In mature drones, the 3 lectins showed the staining patterns characteristic for each lectin, but there were no differences in binding between spermatozoa from seminal vesicles and from ejaculates. Spermatozoa from immature drones showed binding only with BPA. Observation with electron microscopy confirmed the findings seen with light microscopy. Our findings support the hypothesis that spermatozoal plasma membrane surface undergoes changes in some glycoprotein composition as the drone matures, and the in the mature drone, there are no such changes during the passage through the ductus deferens at ejaculation.
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