Sperm glycoproteins of the boar,bull, rabbit,and ram: II. Surface glycoproteins and free acidic groups

Ejaculated spermatozoa of boars, bulls, rabbits, and rams were embedded in glycolmethacrylate and thin sections stained with phosphotungstic acid at low pH in order to observe the distribution of glycoproteins of the plasma membrane. Colloidal iron hydroxide was also used to detect the free acidic groups present on the sperm surface. Species-specific patterns of localizations of glycoproteins and linked negative charges were observed. The distribution was sometimes homogeneous as in bull, but generally heterogeneous in the other species. The significance of the results on sperm surface components and the practical interest to know their normal distribution are discussed.