DISTRIBUTION OF 105-KDA SPERM UNIQUE ANTIGEN ON GOAT - EPIDIDYMAL MATURE SPERMATOZOA

The sperm surface antigens are organized into topographic domains, spe cifically formed into the membrane during the sperm maturation in the epididymis. The present study was directed to determine the distributi on of 105 KD sperm membrane antigen (SMA2) into the cell by affinity p urified antibody, generated by 105 KD sperm antigen. The cytoimmunoflu orescence study of the integrated sperm cell reveal that the antigen i s localized in the;anterior head overlying the acrosome, On immunoblot ting of isolated head and flagellum polypeptides it has been demonstra ted that this antigen is selectively present in the head membrane and absent in the flagellum. Because of its selective presence in the ante rior head membrane overlying the region of acrosome on mature spermato zoa, the 105 KD sperm unique glyco- antigen may have a role in events leading to sperm - egg recognition. It is a first report of a high mol ecular mass membrane antigen being localized in the anterior head memb rane of goat mature epididymal spermatozoa. (C) 1997 Academic Press.