SPERM ACTIVATION BY ARBACIA EGG EXTRACTS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ECHINOCHROME

Abstract

Echinochrome is not the agent in A. punctulata egg-water which stimulates sperm. The echinochrome-protein complex precipitated from the extract of crushed eggs by (NH₄)₂SO₄ is an effective sperm stimulator. From egg-water dialysate and from the echinochrome-protein complex a distillate can be obtained which has sperm-activating properties. It is tentatively suggested that a higher alcohol freed by a hydrolytic agent in the egg-water is the stimulating substance acting directly upon the sperm.