Similar location of an early embryonic antigen on mouse and human spermatozoa.

Antisera prepared by hyperimmunizing syngeneic 129 mice with primitive teratocarcinoma (PTC) cells have allowed the detection of a specific antigen on the surface of these cells (Artzt et al., 1973). This antigen was found to be also present on the surface of mouse spermatozoa and early embryonic cells (morulae), but not on any other differentiated cell type derived either from adult mice or teratocarcinoma (Artzt et al., 1973). This antigen appears to be determined by the wild type allele ( + t12) of a gene at the T locus of the mouse (Artzt et al., 1974). This antigen seems to have been preserved through mammalian evolution; its presence can be detected on the sperm cells of man (But-Caron et al., 1974), of bull, but not of cock. The location of the antigen on the surface of mouse and human spermatozoa was examined by means of indirect immunofluorescence technique. This paper describes this location on the postacrosomal zone of spermatozoa of both species.