7. Exposure of Phosphatidylserine and Intracellular Structures as Functional Markers during In Vitro Storage of Ram Spermatozoa

A comparative analysis of changes in the phospholipid asymmetry of the plasma membrane (PM) and intracellular structures in in vitro induced capacitation and cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa was carried out. The specific localization of translocated molecules phosphatidylserine (PS) in the apical region of the capacitated spermatozoa was established. After cryopreservation PS was localized either in the mid piece region or on the whole PM. Changes in the behavior of PS molecules accompanied by specific phenotypic markers such as localization in the region of the mid piece are signs for unfunctional spermatozoa. Such sperm cells have unfunctional intracellular structures. We consider that these traits are predetermined by signaling pathways other than those controlling the process of capacitation. The presence of apoptic phenotypic markers is the result of some disorders prior to ejaculation and the death of healthy and normal sperm cells occurs in the form of death similar to somatic cell necrosis rather than apoptosis.