Evidence for a nonlysosomal origin of the acrosome

We studied the biogenesis of the acrosome in sperm cells in immunogold-labeled ultrathin cryosections of rat testis, using a variety of antibodies against endosomal/lysosomal marker protein and acrosin, the major secretory protein of sperm cells. As expected, acrosomes and proacrosomal vesicles in the trans-Golgi region contained abundant acrosin. Rat lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (lgp) 120 and mouse lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 were not detectable in the acrosomal membrane. Similarly, the late endosomal markers cation-dependent and -independent mannose 6-phosphate receptors were absent from the acrosome and proacrosomal vesicles. Therefore, acrosomes do not exhibit these endosomal/lysosomal features. Apart from (pro) acrosomal vesicles, both spermatocytes and spermatids contained classical lysosomes (positive for rat lgp 120, mouse lysosome-associated membrane protein-1, and cathepsin D) that were negative for acrosin. Quantitative analysis of the immunogold labeling showed that spermatocytes express more mannose 6-phosphate receptors and lgp 120 than spermatids, whereas the opposite situation existed for acrosin. These data indicate differential synthetic activity of lysosomal and acrosomal constituents in different states of sperm differentiation. Together, our observations argue against a lysosomal /endosomal origin of the acrosome.