Biology of Reproduction, Vol 23, 377-385, Copyright © 1980 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

UDP-Galactose: N-Acetylglucosamine Galactosyltransferase in Fluids from Rat Rete Testis and Epididymis

¹ Department of Anatomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455

Galactosyltransferase enzyme is present as a soluble protein in fluids collected from the rete testis and from the epididymis of the rat. The enzyme is similar in some respects to rat serum galactosyltransferase, but differs with respect to its heat stability, K_m, and substrate specificity. The activity of the enzyme in RTF from different animals is variable, and the possibility that this variability may be due to hormonal influences is discussed. The enzyme found in epididymal fluid has higher activity per unit volume than that in RTF. The possibility that the enzyme may be involved in the glycosylation of the surface proteins of spermatozoa is discussed.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The excellent assistance of Jovita Baker is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to Karen Westphall, who collected the RTF, and to Dr. G.M.H. Waites for critical reading of the manuscript.