The binding of sterol sulfates to hamster spermatozoa

Abstract

Spermatozoa obtained from the cauda epididymidis possess twice the ability to take up sterol sulfates in vitro when compared to sermatozoa obtained from the caput. This would suggest that a modification of the membrane composition of the spermatozoa occurs during passage through the epididymis. Free sterols are taken up in a similar pattern. Radioautographic studies reveal that, for sterol sulfates, this uptake occurs selectively in the regions of the head and mid-piece of the spermatozoa whereas the free sterols are distributed evenly throughout the length of the spermatozoa. The binding of sterol sulfates to spermatozoa appears to involve sites that are unsaturable. The possibility exists that sterol sulfates, previously implicated in membrane stabilization, may play a similar role in spermatozoa.