Analyses of epididymal sperm surface antigens by monoclonal antibodies against hamster spermatozoa

BALB/c mice were immunized with spermatozoa from cauda epididymides of hamsters and the immune spleen cells were fused with mouse myeloma cells (P3U1). Seven hybridomas (GHS-1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6, and -7) that produced monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) binding to the epididymal spermatozoa were established. Three Mabs (GHS-3,-4, and -6) were IgM and the other four were IgG1. All Mabs reacted to hamster spermatozoa from cauda epididymides but none of the Mabs except GHS-5 and -7 reacted to spermatozoa in testis. GHS-5 and -7 Mabs bound to the acrosome region of spermatozoa in both testis and epididymis. The antigens corresponding to GHS-2, -4, and -6 Mabs appeared to be excreted from epithelial cells of caput epididymis, while those to GHS-1 and -3 Mabs seemed to be produced in cauda epididymis. Both groups of the antigens bound to the surface of spermatozoa during their epididymal transit. Immunoblotting analyses of epididymal fluid showed that the antigen epitopes corresponding to GHS-1,-2,-3,-4, and -6 Mabs were distributed to multiple components with different molecular weights ranging from over 100 to 25 kd. The distribution patterns of the epitopes corresponding to GHS-1 and -3 Mabs and GHS-2,-4, and -6 Mabs were very similar, respectively, but each group pattern was quite different from each other. GHS-5 Mab reacted to a component of sperm extract with a molecular weight of around 94 kd, while GHS-7 Mab failed to recognize any components transblotted.