• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 1990

The change of phosphatase activities of the epididymal spermatozoa has been examined during epididymal maturation in mouse. The quantitative analysis of phQsphatase activities have been carried out using the method modified by Emst(1975). The results of experiment were summarized as the followings. Total protein of the caput epididyrnal spermatozoa(CPS) was measured as 59.1 $\pm$8.4(mg/10 9 spermatozoa), and that of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa(CDS) was 14.0$\pm$12.3(mg/10 9 spermatozoa). When phosphatase activities of the CDS in basic reaction medium were 29.2% in alkaline phosphatase, 44.9% in ATPse and 53.8% in acid phosphatase. The activities were eminently decreased in all CDS in contrast to those of CPS. The alkaline phosphatase and ATPase activities of K+ -dependent were decreased in CDS when compared with caput epididymal spermatozoa, and alkaline phosphatase, ATPase and acid phosphatase activities of $Ca^2$+ -dependent were increased in homogenized spermatozoa when compared with intact spermatozoa. From these results, it may be concluded that the decrease of phosphatases activities in spermatozoa during epididymal maturation may play some significant roles in acquiring fertilizing capability.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 2002

The onset of pronucleus formation and DNA synthesis in porcine oocytes following the injection of porcine or murine sperm was determined in order to obtain insights into species-specific paternal factors that contribute to fertilization. After 44h in vitro maturation, spermatozoa was injected into the cytoplasm of oocytes. After injection, all oocytes were transferred to NCSU23 medium and cultured at 39'E under 5% CO2 in air. Similar frequencies of oocytes with female pronuclei were observed after injection with porcine sperm or with murine sperm. In contrast, male pronuclei formed 8 to 9 h following the injection of porcine sperm, and 6 to 8 h following the injection of murine sperm. After pronucleus formation maternally derived microtubules were assembled and appeared to move both male and female pronuclei to the oocyte center. A few porcine oocytes entered metaphase 22 h after the injection of murine sperm, but normal cell division was not observed. The mean time of onset of S-phase in male pronuclei was 9.7 h following porcine sperm injection and 7.4 h following mouse sperm injection. These results suggested that DNA synthesis was delayed in both pronuclei until the sperm chromatin fully decondensed, and the sperm nuclear decondensing activity and microtubule nucleation abilities of the male centrosome are cell cycle dependent.