Distribution and possible role of perinuclear theca proteins during bovine spermiogenesis.

The perinuclear theca (PT) is a unique cytoskeletal element that encapsulates the mammalian sperm nucleus. It is divided into subacrosomal and postacrosomal regions. The objective of this study was to analyze and stage the intracellular distribution of several prominent bull PT proteins during spermatogenesis. For this purpose, polyclonal antibodies raised and affinity-purified against the 15.5-, 25-, 28-, 32-, 36-, and 60-kDa bull PT polypeptides were used as probes on sections of aldehyde-fixed testes. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed that the PT polypeptides first appeared early in spermiogenesis, concomitant with early steps of development of the acrosomic system. Immunogold labeling further showed that these polypeptides were peripherally associated with the entire acrosomal membrane, before and during the attachment of the acrosomic vesicle onto the spermatid's nucleus. Once the acrosome had capped the nucleus the labeling resided mainly in the subacrosomal region of the spermatid, between the inner acrosomal membrane and nuclear envelope. Later, during the elongation of the spermatid's nucleus, the labeling with all antibodies except the anti-15.5-kDa antibody extended caudally over the assembling postacrosomal sheath. This study suggests that the perinuclear theca proteins play an instrumental role in the attachment, spreading, and binding of the acrosome onto the nucleus of spermatids.