Summary
With freeze-fracturing sperm cells appear to be fractured preferentially through the plasma membranes. Only few fracture planes through the cytoplasm are found. Both the PF as well as the EF side of the sperm cell plasma membranes show a slightly undulating surface and contain intramembrane particles. The particle distribution is irregular and does not show any clustering. The EF side of the plasmamembrane contains approximately 3 times more particles per μm2 than the PF side.
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Abbreviations
- EF:
-
extraplasmatic fracture face
- IMP:
-
intramembrane particles
- FDA:
-
fluorescein diacetate
- PF:
-
plasmatic fracture face
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van Aelst, A.C., Theunis, C.H. & van Went, J.L. Freeze-fracture studies on isolated sperm cells ofSpinacia oleracea L.. Protoplasma 153, 204–207 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01354005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01354005