Publication: Cytochemical and biochemical evidences for a complex tridimensional structure of the hamster zona pellucida
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Date
2009
Authors
Saavedra Leos, María Dolores ; Gutiérrez Gallego, Ricardo ; Fayrer Hosken, Richard ; Ballesta Germán, José ; Avilés Sánchez, Manuel ; Castells Mora, María Teresa ; Izquierdo Rico, María José ; Jíménez Movilla, María ; Martínez Alonso, Emma
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Biología Celular
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular
matrix that surrounds eggs and pre-implantation
embryos and is required for in vivo fertility. A key event
in successful fertilization is sperm binding to the surface
of the ZP. It has been previously described that the
hamster sperm binds mainly the outer region of the ZP
which corresponds to the porous region in contact with
the cumulus cells. Using ultrastructural cytochemistry
approaches with an antibody developed against porcine
ZP, this study shows that the pig ZP shares epitopes with
some rodent species like hamster, rat and mouse. In the
hamster, these epitopes are located mainly in the outer
region of the ZP of preovulatory and ovulated oocytes.
By means of biochemical approaches it was
demonstrated that 1) the antibody is specific for the
native hamster ZP3, 2) four different bands with a
molecular weight of 67, 60, 48 and 38 kDa after Nlinked
deglycosylation suggesting that the hamster ZP is
formed by four proteins, and 3) the different composition
observed in the outer region of the hamster ZP could be
due to a specific supramolecular structure that makes
some epitopes accessible for the antibodies. In summary,
this study provides evidence that the different composition observed in the different regions of the ZP
is mediated by a different organization of the
components of the ZP produced during the oocyte
maturation. This different organization could be
responsible for the different sperm binding affinity
observed for sperm to the outer region versus the inner
region of the ZP.
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