Apical blebs on sperm storage tubule epithelial cell microvilli: Their release and interaction with resident sperm in the turkey hen oviduct |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, USA;2. Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, USA;1. Department of Animal Science, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran;2. Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran;3. Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran;2. Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;1. Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain;2. Department of Reproductive Biology, FES-Iztacala, UNAM, 54090, Tlalnepantla, México;3. Zoitechlab, R&D Department, 28400 Madrid, Spain;4. Department of Animal Breeding, INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain;10. INRA 0085 UMR PRC INRA-CNRS-University François Rabelais-Haras Nationaux, 37380 Nouzilly, France;2. Animal Parasitology and Disease Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, 20705;1. Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland;2. Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;3. In Vitro and Cell Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland;4. Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, via Trentacoste 2, 20134, Milan, Italy;2. Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Molise, via De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Located at the anterior end of the turkey hen's vagina are numerous discrete tubular invaginations of the surface epithelium, collectively referred to as the sperm storage tubules (SSTs). After mating or artificial insemination, sperm ascend the vagina, enter the SSTs, and over the ensuing days and weeks, gradually exit the SSTs and are transported to the anterior end of the oviduct to fertilize a daily succession of ova. Little is known regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for sperm subsistence in the lumen of the SST. In this study, the origin of microvillus blebs (MvBs) on the apical tips of SST epithelial cells was examined, and their possible role in sperm survival was discussed. Regardless, if sperm are present or not, transmission electron microscopy revealed two types of microvilli differentiated by the presence or absence of pleomorphic unilaminar MvBs localized to their apical tips. Although some MvBs appeared to be discharging their contents into the SST lumen, others appeared to have pinched off the microvillus stem. When SSTs contained clusters of densely packed sperm, the sperm heads of those sperm adjacent to the SST epithelial cell surface were surrounded by the microvilli. Associated with the plasmalemma of sperm throughout the SST lumina were membrane fragments and small vesicles (30–130 nm in diameter), some of which appeared to have fused with sperm. It is concluded that the MvBs are a form of shedding vesicle released from the SST epithelial cell microvilli by apocrine secretion. On the basis of observations described herein and those of other authors, it is suggested that the MvBs contribute to sustained sperm storage in the SSTs by (1) supplying metabolic substrates used by resident sperm, (2) serving as fusogenic vehicles providing exogenous macromolecules that reversibly suppress sperm functions associated with fertilization (decapacitation?) and stabilize the sperm plasmalemma, and (3) acting as transport vesicles actively transporting fluid from the SST epithelial cells to the SST lumen. |
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| Keywords: | Bird Poultry Oviductal sperm storage Sperm storage tubule |
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