Characterization and localization of in vivo phospholipid methylation in the hamster testis
Although previous studies have demonstrated that phospholipid methylation occurs in the testis and may be involved in Leydig cell function, phospholipid methylation in spermatogenic cells has not been characterized. In this study we describe the occurrence, time course, and localization of phospholipid methylation in the hamster testis following intratesticular injection of radioactive methyl precursor. Adult and pubertal (seven day old) hamsters were injected intratesticularly with (/sup 3/H-methyl)-methionine and sacrificed 10 min. to 31 hours thereafter. The testes were then removed and homogenized or dispersed into cell suspensions. Spermatogenic cell and Leydig cell enriched preparations were isolated from the dispersed cell preparations using elutriation and Percoll gradient centrifugation and assayed for methylated phospholipids and proteins. These experiments demonstrated that (1) phospholipid methylation occurs in the hamster testis at a level seven-fold greater than protein methylation, (2) the incorporation of radioactivity associated with phospholipid methylation is progressive over time, and (3) in vivo, spermatogenic cell preparations enriched with pachytene spermatocytes have an almost four-fold higher level of measurable phospholipid methylation when compared to whole testis preparations. Taken together, these results suggest that phospholipid methylation may play an important stage-specific role in spermatogenesis.
- Research Organization:
- Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5878954
- Journal Information:
- J. Urol.; (United States), Vol. 141:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
0610009K11Rik, a testis-specific and germ cell nuclear receptor-interacting protein
Characterization of fucosyltransferase activity during mouse spermatogenesis: Evidence for a cell surface fucosyltransferase
Related Subjects
HAMSTERS
SPERMATOGENESIS
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
METHYLATION
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
CENTRIFUGATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
METHIONINE
SPERMATOCYTES
TESTES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DRUGS
ESTERS
GAMETOGENESIS
GERM CELLS
GONADS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
LIPOTROPIC FACTORS
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
550501* - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques