The objectives of the proposed research are to investigate the factors involved in the packing and regulation of cell nuclei during mammalian spermatogenesis and in the formation and functioning of the male pronucleus during fertilization. Proposed experiments are designed: (1) to determine the factors involved in condensing sperm chromatin during spermiogenesis; (2) to determine the effect on spermatid template activity of changes in the protein content of spermatid nuclei; and (3) to determine the factors involved in sperm chromatin decondensation and male pronuclear formation during fertilization. The results of the proposed autoradiographic, ultrastructural and electrophoretic studies of spermatogenesis are expected to provide information on the functions of one or more of the several testis-specific proteins known to replace the histones during mammalian spermiogenesis. By employing newly developed egg microinjection methods for studies of early events of fertilization, the roles of disulfide bond reduction and proteolysis in the decondensation of the fertilization, the roles of disulfide bond reduction and proteolysis in the decondensation of the fertilizing sperm nucleus and the formation of the male pronucleus will be investigated. The results obtained from these latter studies should contribute to an understanding of critical events of early fertilization.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD009921-09
Application #
3311195
Study Section
Reproductive Biology Study Section (REB)
Project Start
1976-04-01
Project End
1987-06-30
Budget Start
1985-07-01
Budget End
1986-06-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
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Roberts, K P; Awoniyi, C A; Santulli, R et al. (1991) Regulation of Sertoli cell transferrin and sulfated glycoprotein-2 messenger ribonucleic acid levels during the restoration of spermatogenesis in the adult hypophysectomized rat. Endocrinology 129:3417-23
Sprando, R L; Santulli, R; Awoniyi, C A et al. (1990) Does ethane 1,2-dimethanesulphonate (EDS) have a direct cytotoxic effect on the seminiferous epithelium of the rat testis? J Androl 11:344-52
Santulli, R; Sprando, R L; Awoniyi, C A et al. (1990) To what extent can spermatogenesis be maintained in the hypophysectomized adult rat testis with exogenously administered testosterone? Endocrinology 126:95-101
Awoniyi, C A; Sprando, R L; Santulli, R et al. (1990) Restoration of spermatogenesis by exogenously administered testosterone in rats made azoospermic by hypophysectomy or withdrawal of luteinizing hormone alone. Endocrinology 127:177-84
Hardy, M P; Zirkin, B R; Ewing, L L (1989) Kinetic studies on the development of the adult population of Leydig cells in testes of the pubertal rat. Endocrinology 124:762-70

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