Organization of the Hamster Cumulus Extracellular Matrix: A Hyaluronate‐Glycoprotein Gel which Modulates Sperm Access to the Oocyte

摘要: The mammalian oocyte-cumulus complex contains an extracellular matrix rich in hyaluronate. Recently, the microstructure of hamster cumulus was described (52). In present work, we investigated organization this matrix. We employed freeze-substitution methodologies to investigate ultrastructural effects various treatments, including sperm enzymes, on Protease treatment resulted disruption with a loss fibrillar structures and some expansion; contrast, hyaluronidase completely solubilized EDTA extraction revealed that fibrils are composed fine filaments. A discrete region immediately surrounding oocyte, corona radiata, resistant disruption. found hyaluronate is ubiquitous constituent microstructural elements exhibits carbohydrate:protein ratio approximately 2:1. SDS-PAGE glycosylated polypeptides bound lectins LCA WGA had differing affinities for these polypeptides, ubiquitously intact data suggest glycoprotein-hyaluronate interaction critical maintenance its physical properties.