Artigo
Identification of phospholipase C zeta in normospermic and teratospermic domestic cat sperm
Fecha
2013-10-15Registro en:
Theriogenology, v. 80, n. 7, p. 722-729, 2013.
0093-691X
10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.06.005
WOS:000324660700004
2-s2.0-84883793698
2-s2.0-84883793698.pdf
6666129914663018
8456490300814833
0000-0002-2420-2550
Autor
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
University of Massachusetts
UNIFRAN
Resumen
In mammalian species, oocyte activation is initiated by oscillations in the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca2+]i), which are also essential to allow embryonic development. To date, evidence supporting the hypothesis that a sperm factor is responsible for initiating oocyte activation has been presented in various mammalian species. Among the possible candidates to be the active sperm factor is the novel sperm-specific phospholipase C ζ (PLCζ), which besides its testis-specific expression is capable of initiating [Ca2+]i oscillations. In this study, we investigated the presence of PLCζ in the sperm of the domestic cat and whether normospermic and teratospermic cats differ in their PLCζ expression. Immunoblotting with anti-PLCζ antibodies confirmed the presence of an immunoreactive band of ~70 kDa in whole sperm lysates of domestic cat as well as in both soluble and insoluble fractions from this sperm. Additional immunoreactive bands, probably C- and N-terminal truncated versions of PLCζ, were also visualized in the soluble sperm fractions. Interestingly, immunoreactivity of PLCζ was detectable in teratospermic sperm, although with slightly less intensity than in normospermic sperm. In conclusion, domestic cat sperm express PLCζ in both cytosolic and high-pH fractions, which is consistent with data in other mammals. Sperm from teratospermic cats also express PLCζ, albeit at reduced concentrations, which may affect the fertility of these males. © 2013 Elsevier Inc..