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Immunobiology of gametes. Clinical and experimental immunoreproduction. Vol. 4
100
the Serono Symposium, Volume 8. Edited by P.G. Crosignani and D.R. Mishell, 1976, Academic Press, London), will make an up-to
(Werribee, Vic., Australia) IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF GAMETES
Immunobiology of Gametes. Clinical and Experimental Immunoreproduction. Vol. 4. First edition. Edidin M. and Johnson M.H. (Editors), Cambridge University Press, 1977, 310 pp., 47 tables and 89 figures. This is the fourth volume of the series devoted to the immunology of reproduction and it contains twelve contributions reported at a special small meeting in The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A. in May 1976. This volume begins with the morphological study of mammalian sperm directed by Friend to the organization of the spermatozoal membrane. By means of freeze - fracturing of guinea pig spermatozoa the variations of internal structure in different functional domains of membranes were described. The study of membrane fluidity, a factor affecting the mobility of molecules, was considered in the paper by Gaffney and Lin and in the following discussion. The chapter "Distribution and mobility of lectin binding sites on mammalian spermatozoa" was presented by Millette. The genetic constitution of the gamete, mainly its development and function is a very important question in reproduction and genetics, discussed in many papers, meetings and books. As regards spermatozoa, considerable attention was given to this problem in the chapter by Koo, Boyse and Wachtel "Immunogenetic techniques and approaches in the study of sperm and testicular cell surface antigens", and in the report by Erickson "Differentiation and other alloantigens of spermatozoa." The work of these authors and others discussed in these two reports did not present convincing facts for the acceptance that haploid expression is demonstrated in mammals. Even discussion among participants in the meeting did not contain anything new. Two hydrolytic enzymes, hyaluronidase and acrosin, found in the acrosome of mammal spermatozoa were reported by Morton. His paper was concerned mainly with the localization and function of these two enzymes in ram spermatozoa. The roles of sperm hyaluronidase and acrosin in fertilization was investigated mainly by the use of the immunoenzymic approach. The possible use of inhibitors and monospecific antisera for the blocking of these enzymes was also described. The nature of antigens in sperm responsible for autoimmunity process in males was examined in the Tung paper. The pathobiological consequences of immune response to these antigens, mainly in rabbits and humans, were also described.
101 The question of egg and its gene expression within the maturing time was analysed by Van Blerkom. F r o m the facts he presented and the discussion it became clear that the use of presynthesized gene materials during final maturation stages occurs in this sexual cell too. The following paper devoted to the organization and the antigenic properties of the egg membrane was reported by Solter. This author expressed very important ideas about the determination of different celllines during embryonic development. He believes that the sequential appearance and disappearance of cell surface antigens can regulate differentialcellularadhesion, cellularcommunication and thereby secure normal development. Solter and Epel in their chapter "The egg surface in relation to metabolic activation at fertilization"presented evidence of considerable change in membrane properties after fertilizationin which fluidity of egg membranes can play an important role in the fertilization process. In the discussion following Solter'sreport, Goldberg presented the time of appearance for H - Y antigen in mice to the eight-ceU stage. N o four-cell embryos were killed by anti H - Y antibodies. Male gene expression occurs, therefore, presumably by the eight-cellstage. The last chapter in the book "Specificity of sperm--egg interaction" by Yanagimachi is subdivided into five stages: (1) preparation of the spermatozoon for fertilization--the sperm capacitation and acrosome reactions; (2) interaction of spermatozoa with the zona pellucida; (3) sperm--egg fusion; (4) activation of egg by spermatozoon; and (5) interaction between sperm nucleus and egg cytoplasm. The author demonstrated that sperm capacitation is not a strictlyorgan - specific and species - specific phenomenon. The recognition of zona peUucida surfaces by spermatozoa is, on the other hand, highly species - specific.The fusion between eggs and spermatozoa shows less distinct species - specificity.The vigorous motility of the spermatozoa is necessary for sperm passage through the zona pellucida. Decondensation and subsequent transformation of sperm nuclei into pronuclei in egg cytoplasm do not appear to be highly species - specific. All papers and the ensuing discussions presented in this book are very valuable contributions to our knowledge of the construction and interaction of gametes from cellular,molecular and genetic points of view. M a n y new techniques have been developed and used for the experimental studies presented in this volume. The book will be very useful for reproductive biologists specialized in immunology of reproduction, gametes and fertilization. Membrane biologistswill also find this book interesting.
JOSEF MATOUSEK (L~bechov, Czechoslovakia)
the Serono Symposium, Volume 8. Edited by P.G. Crosignani and D.R. Mishell, 1976, Academic Press, London), will make an up-to
(Werribee, Vic., Australia) IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF GAMETES
Immunobiology of Gametes. Clinical and Experimental Immunoreproduction. Vol. 4. First edition. Edidin M. and Johnson M.H. (Editors), Cambridge University Press, 1977, 310 pp., 47 tables and 89 figures. This is the fourth volume of the series devoted to the immunology of reproduction and it contains twelve contributions reported at a special small meeting in The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A. in May 1976. This volume begins with the morphological study of mammalian sperm directed by Friend to the organization of the spermatozoal membrane. By means of freeze - fracturing of guinea pig spermatozoa the variations of internal structure in different functional domains of membranes were described. The study of membrane fluidity, a factor affecting the mobility of molecules, was considered in the paper by Gaffney and Lin and in the following discussion. The chapter "Distribution and mobility of lectin binding sites on mammalian spermatozoa" was presented by Millette. The genetic constitution of the gamete, mainly its development and function is a very important question in reproduction and genetics, discussed in many papers, meetings and books. As regards spermatozoa, considerable attention was given to this problem in the chapter by Koo, Boyse and Wachtel "Immunogenetic techniques and approaches in the study of sperm and testicular cell surface antigens", and in the report by Erickson "Differentiation and other alloantigens of spermatozoa." The work of these authors and others discussed in these two reports did not present convincing facts for the acceptance that haploid expression is demonstrated in mammals. Even discussion among participants in the meeting did not contain anything new. Two hydrolytic enzymes, hyaluronidase and acrosin, found in the acrosome of mammal spermatozoa were reported by Morton. His paper was concerned mainly with the localization and function of these two enzymes in ram spermatozoa. The roles of sperm hyaluronidase and acrosin in fertilization was investigated mainly by the use of the immunoenzymic approach. The possible use of inhibitors and monospecific antisera for the blocking of these enzymes was also described. The nature of antigens in sperm responsible for autoimmunity process in males was examined in the Tung paper. The pathobiological consequences of immune response to these antigens, mainly in rabbits and humans, were also described.
101 The question of egg and its gene expression within the maturing time was analysed by Van Blerkom. F r o m the facts he presented and the discussion it became clear that the use of presynthesized gene materials during final maturation stages occurs in this sexual cell too. The following paper devoted to the organization and the antigenic properties of the egg membrane was reported by Solter. This author expressed very important ideas about the determination of different celllines during embryonic development. He believes that the sequential appearance and disappearance of cell surface antigens can regulate differentialcellularadhesion, cellularcommunication and thereby secure normal development. Solter and Epel in their chapter "The egg surface in relation to metabolic activation at fertilization"presented evidence of considerable change in membrane properties after fertilizationin which fluidity of egg membranes can play an important role in the fertilization process. In the discussion following Solter'sreport, Goldberg presented the time of appearance for H - Y antigen in mice to the eight-ceU stage. N o four-cell embryos were killed by anti H - Y antibodies. Male gene expression occurs, therefore, presumably by the eight-cellstage. The last chapter in the book "Specificity of sperm--egg interaction" by Yanagimachi is subdivided into five stages: (1) preparation of the spermatozoon for fertilization--the sperm capacitation and acrosome reactions; (2) interaction of spermatozoa with the zona pellucida; (3) sperm--egg fusion; (4) activation of egg by spermatozoon; and (5) interaction between sperm nucleus and egg cytoplasm. The author demonstrated that sperm capacitation is not a strictlyorgan - specific and species - specific phenomenon. The recognition of zona peUucida surfaces by spermatozoa is, on the other hand, highly species - specific.The fusion between eggs and spermatozoa shows less distinct species - specificity.The vigorous motility of the spermatozoa is necessary for sperm passage through the zona pellucida. Decondensation and subsequent transformation of sperm nuclei into pronuclei in egg cytoplasm do not appear to be highly species - specific. All papers and the ensuing discussions presented in this book are very valuable contributions to our knowledge of the construction and interaction of gametes from cellular,molecular and genetic points of view. M a n y new techniques have been developed and used for the experimental studies presented in this volume. The book will be very useful for reproductive biologists specialized in immunology of reproduction, gametes and fertilization. Membrane biologistswill also find this book interesting.
JOSEF MATOUSEK (L~bechov, Czechoslovakia)