Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/42811

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Title
Acrosome stability in the spermatoza of dasyurid marsupials
Author/Creator
Czarny, N. A.;  Mate, K. E.;  Rodger, J. C.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Description
The spermatozoa of most marsupials lack nuclear stabilising disulfide-bonded protamines found in eutherian mammals. However, disulfide stabilisation has been observed in the acrosome of macropodid (Macropus eugenii) and phalangerid (Trichosurus vulpecula) marsupials. As a result this organelle, which is normally fragile in eutherian mammals, is robust and able to withstand physical and chemical challenge in these marsupials. The present study examined acrosomal characteristics of the spermatozoa of three dasyurid marsupials; the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata), eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) and northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). In all species examined Bryan’s staining demonstrated that significant acrosomal loss occurred following physical challenge with osmotic stress, cryopreservation without cryoprotectant and exposure to detergent (Triton-X). Bromobimane staining indicated that the acrosomes of dasyurids lacked stabilising disulfide bonds. As reported for the wallaby and possum, calcium ionophore (A23187) did not induce the acrosome reaction-like exocytosis in dasyurid spermatozoa but treatment with diacylglycerol (DiC8) caused significant acrosome loss at concentrations similar to those effective for other marsupials. The present study found that the spermatozoa of dasyurids are more sensitive to physical challenge than the previously-studied marsupials and we suggest that this is due to the absence of acrosomal stabilising disulfide bonds.
Relation
Reproduction, Fertility and Development Vol. 20, Issue 2, p. 295-302
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD07178
Date
2008
Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Keyword(s)
Macropus eugenii;  intracytoplasmic sperm injection;  Dasyurus viverrinus;  Dasyurus hallucatus;  Trichosurus vulpecula;  in-vitro fertilization;  bound amidase activity;  Tammar wallaby;  Sminthopsis crassicaudata;  Brushtail possum;  ultrastructural observations;  matured oocytes
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/42811
Identifier
ISSN:1031-3613
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Subject
"Reproduction, Fertility and Development"
 
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