Effects of in vitro incubation on a zona binding site found on murine spermatozoa.

Murine cauda epididymal sperm possess a site, the acceptor, on the plasma membrane over the apical cap region of the acrosome which recognizes both a proteinase inhibitor of seminal vesicle origin and homologous zonae. The acceptor site may participate in both capacitation and zona binding. This presentation explores the effect of in vitro incubation in a medium known to induce capacitation on the binding capabilities of this site.

A monoclonal antibody to a zona pellucida-proteinase inhibitor binding component on murine spermatozoa.

A monoclonal antibody, J-23, was produced to an epitope of a binding (acceptor) component on the plasma membrane in the acrosomal cap region of the mouse sperm head. The component binds a proteinase inhibitor of seminal vesicle origin at ejaculation and participates in the in vitro binding of capacitated sperm to the zona pellucida. The antibody, an IgM molecule, recognizes affinity purified acceptor, crude acceptor and whole sperm as determined by ELISA methodology.

Identification of harman in the rat arcuate nucleus.

This communication describes the presence of 1-methyl-beta-carboline (harman) in the hypophysiotropic area of the hypothalamus which incorporates the arcuate nucleus. Diethyl ether extracts of borate-buffered arcuate homogenates were subjected to silica column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Identification of the beta-carboline was accomplished by use of fluorescent spectrometry, gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS) and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).