Lectin staining of the uterovaginal junction and sperm-storage tubule epithelia in broiler hens.

Mammalian sperm bind to terminal carbohydrates associated with glycoconjugates on the apical surface of oviduct epithelial cells in the caudal region of the oviduct and undergo cellular and molecular modifications associated with capacitation prior to ovulation. In contrast, chicken sperm are stored for up to 23 d in sperm-storage tubules (SST) localized in the uterovaginal junction (UVJ). Little is known of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate sperm storage in and release from the SST. The purpose of this study was to identify glycoconjugates associated with the SST epithelial cell surface using lectins. Virgin hens and hens of higher and lower fertility in egg production for 6 to 16 wk were used in this study. Sections of UVJ mucosa containing SST were stained with fluorescent conjugated lectins and examined by confocal microscopy. Carbohydrate moieties associated with the UVJ and SST epithelia differed in their lectin binding patterns. No differences in the lectin binding patterns within the 2 epithelia were discernible between the virgin and younger and older hens. Minor differences were observed between the higher and lower fertility hens. Only lectins specific for galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine moieties were localized to the luminal surface of the SST. While resident sperm may be closely apposed to the SST epithelial cell apical microvilli, it is unlikely that sperm binding to the microvilli via terminal carbohydrates associated with glycoconjugates is a requisite for prolonged storage. However, the possibility of SST epithelial cell communication with resident sperm via shedding microvillous vesicles characterized by surface glycoconjugates with terminal galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine moieties is currently being investigated.