The plasma membrane of Xenopus laevis spermatozoon

Xenopus laevis sperm plasma membrane ultrastructure has been studied by means of freeze-fracture, deep-etching, and lectin-gold binding. Xenopus spermatozoa differ from those of other species in that their plasma membrane does not exhibit topographical domains. In fact, no geometric arrangement or characteristic array of particles is present on fractured plasma membrane. Fractures rarely occur in acrosomal or nuclear membranes. Wheat germ agglutinin receptors are distributed homogeneously on the plasma membrane of the sperm head and tail.