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Morphological and Biochemical Alterations of Abalone Testicular Germ Cells and Spawned Sperm and their Fertilizing Ability

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Abstract

In this study, we aimed to detect morphological and biochemical changes in developing germ cells (Gc), testicular sperm (Tsp), and spawned sperm (Ssp) using capacitation-associated characteristics. Gradual changes in the profiles of two membrane proteins, namely NaCl- and detergent-extractable proteins, were observed as compared Gc with Tsp and Tsp with Ssp. These membrane modifications were accomplished mostly through the introduction of new protein sets, both peripheral and integral, into Tsp and Ssp membranes. Activation of serine proteases, particularly in Ssp detergent-extracted proteins with the molecular masses of 38–130 kDa was evident and marked a major difference between Ssp and Tsp. An increase in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins ranging from 15 to 20 kDa was noted in Tsp and remained constant in Ssp. Specifically, these three capacitation-associated characteristics could be detected in Ssp, possessing full fertilizing capacity. The lack of an activated proteolytic activity in Tsp resulted in a delayed fertilization, but not affected fertilizing ability. We believe that these characteristics should be advantageous in predicting abalone sperm fertilizing capability, particularly in cases when isolated germ cells or purified Tsp are used in place of spawned sperm in abalone aquaculture.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Thailand Research Fund (to PS and WW and Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Scholarship Program to WS) and Mahidol University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Worawit Suphamungmee, Wattana Weerachatyanukul, Peter Hanna & Prasert Sobhon

  2. The Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Center, Department of Fisheries, Klongwan, Prachuabkirikhun, 77000, Thailand

    Tanes Poomtong

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  1. Worawit Suphamungmee
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  2. Wattana Weerachatyanukul
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  3. Tanes Poomtong
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  4. Peter Hanna
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  5. Prasert Sobhon
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Correspondence to Wattana Weerachatyanukul.

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Suphamungmee, W., Weerachatyanukul, W., Poomtong, T. et al. Morphological and Biochemical Alterations of Abalone Testicular Germ Cells and Spawned Sperm and their Fertilizing Ability. Mar Biotechnol 10, 593–601 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9097-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9097-6

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