Membrane domains in guinea pig sperm and their role in the membrane fusion events of the acrosome reaction.

Abstract

In this study, we have examined the structure of domains of the periacrosomal plasma membrane (PM) and outer acrosomal membrane (OAM) of guinea pig sperm and defined their fate during the membrane fusion events of the acrosome reaction. Cauda epididymal sperm were arranged in rouleaux, joined by periacrosomal PM "junctional" zones; in these zones, the PMs were linked by cross bridges formed from a paracrystalline glycocalyx. Bridging elements linked the PM to the OAM on the ventral (concave) but not dorsal (convex) aspect of the apical segment. Parallel filaments were associated with the luminal face of the OAM overlying the dorsal surface of the apical segment. Sperm were induced to undergo a "synchronous" acrosome reaction after preincubation in Ca2+-free medium containing lysolecithin, by the addition of Ca2+. Fusion between the OAM and PM occurred at the boundaries but not within the PM "junctional" zones over the apical segment. In nonjunctional regions on the dorsal surface of the apical segment, sheets of unfenestrated hybrid membranes and parallel arrays of hybrid membrane tubules formed, while branching arrays of hybrid membrane tubules and vesicles were observed on the ventral surface. In the principal segment, networks of branching hybrid membrane tubules initially formed but later transformed into vesicles. Hence, the lysolecithin-mediated guinea pig sperm acrosome reaction involves a complex sequence of membrane fusions, which differs in domains of the periacrosomal PM and OAM. Stable nonfusigenic domains are present in both the PM and OAM of the apical segment; membrane-associated assemblies may maintain these domains and may also provide direction to some of the membrane fusion events of the acrosome reaction.