Beat frequency is bimodally distributed in spermatozoa from T/t12 mice

Abstract

Flagellar beat frequencies of spermatozoa from mice of varying genotype were studied using highspeed cinemicrography. Beat frequency was variable but unimodal in two inbred lines, their F₁, and an outbred line. In contrast, beat frequency in spermatozoa from T-complex, balanced lethal stocks (T/t⁶ and T/t¹²) tended not to vary between individual males of each genotype up to four hours after collection. The two-hour distribution of beat frequency for T/t¹² was, moreover, bimodal, suggesting the possible existence of two subpopulations of spermatozoa.