Spatial and temporal expression of cell surface galactosyltransferase during mouse spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation.

We have previously shown that sperm-egg recognition in the mouse is mediated by the binding of galactosyltransferase (GalTase) on the sperm surface to its appropriate glycoside substrate in the egg zona pellucida [L. C. Lopez, E. M. Bayna, D. Litoff, N. L. Shaper, J. H. Shaper, and B. D. Shur (1985) J. Cell Biol. 101, 1501-1510]. In the present study, we have defined the spatial and temporal expression of surface GalTase during spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation. Purified populations of spermatogenic cells were isolated by unit gravity sedimentation, and surface GalTase expression was determined by indirect immunofluorescence and by direct enzymatic assay. GalTase is present on the surface of all spermatogenic cells assayed. During differentiation, there is a progressive redistribution of GalTase from an initially diffuse and uniform localization on the surface of primary spermatocytes to a restricted plasma membrane domain overlying the dorsal aspect of the mature acrosome. This apparent redistribution of surface GalTase was confirmed by direct enzymatic assays, which show that surface GalTase activity, normalized per cell, remains relatively constant throughout spermatogenesis, despite a drastic reduction in cell surface area. When normalized to the relevant cell surface area, the GalTase concentration per square micrometer increases 77-fold from pachytene spermatocytes to cauda epididymal sperm. Cell surface GalTase is thought to be a cytoskeletally associated transmembrane protein [N. L. Shaper, P. L. Mann, and J. H. Shaper (1985) J. Cell Biochem. 28, 229-239]; consequently we examined whether cytoskeletal components may be involved in the redistribution of GalTase during spermatogenesis. beta-Tubulin, monomeric actin, and filamentous actin were found to be present during spermatogenesis, as assayed by indirect immunofluorescence and by Western immunoblotting. alpha-Actinin and vinculin were not detectable under these conditions and served as negative controls. During spermatogenesis, the distribution of tubulin coincides with the appearance of the mitotic spindle, flagellum, and manchette. On the other hand, the distribution of filamentous actin coincides with surface GalTase, suggesting that actin-containing microfilaments may participate in the redistribution of surface GalTase during spermatogenesis.