Extraction of concanavalin A affinity material from rat testicular and epididymal spermatozoa

Immature and mature rat spermatozoa obtained by cannulation of the rete testis and the cauda epididymidis, respectively, have been labeled by the lactoperoxidase iodination technique. After solubilization with SDS or Triton X-100, the labeled glycoproteins have been fractionated by affinity chromatography using a Concanavalin A-agarose column. Comparison of the fractions eluted by methyl-a-D-glucopyranoside after labeling of immature and mature spermatozoa revealed an increase in Concanavalin A binding sites on the spermatozoa during their passage through the epididymis.