ACTIVATION OF RESPIRATION IN SEA URCHIN SPERMATOZOA BY EGG WATER

Abstract

Arbacia punctulata, Mellita quinquiesperforata, Lytechinus variegatus, and Asterias forbesi were used to observe the effects of egg materials on sperm respiration, motility, and structure. Increases in sperm respiration and motility were caused by the supernatant sea water of suspensions of eggs either with or without their jelly-coats. The activating material is of low molecular weight, and is non-volatile, soluble in ethanol and butanol, and stable to boiling in water. Comparisons with cysteine, which has similar effects on sperm respiration, indicated that the activator is not cysteine. Other amino acids tested had no effects on the sperm. Respiration and motility of Arbacia and Mellita sperm were activated by suspensions of the red granules found imbedded in the jelly-coats of Mellita eggs. Mellita sperm were not activated by material from Arbacia eggs. Solutions from Lytechinus eggs activated homologous sperm but not Arbacia sperm.