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Journal of Experimental Biology 25,344-352 (1948)
Published by Company of Biologists 1948

The Physiology of Sea-Urchin Spermatozoa : Lack of Movement in Semen

LORD ROTHSCHILD ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

1. Echinus esculentus spermatozoa are normally motionless in undiluted semen. They become active when the semen is diluted with sea water or seminal plasma obtained by gentle centrifugation (1500 r.p.m., 12 cm. radius, for 15 min.).

2. A sperm-immobilizing substance can, however, be obtained in seminal plasma by more prolonged centrifugation of semen.

3. Spermatozoa can be made motile in undiluted semen by increasing the O₂ tension in the atmosphere surrounding the semen.

4. This O₂ activation is completely inhibited by N₂; the N₂ effect is reversible.

5. Measurements of seminal O₂ tension were made with an O₂ electrode. The O₂ tension of semen is low, being at most 15 mm. Hg. It was not possible to decide whether this residual tension was due to O₂ or some other substance reacting at the electrode.

6. The K content of seminal plasma is about 1·55 mg./ml., which is four times higher than that of perivisceral fluid or sea water.

7. The pH of semen is lower than that of sea water, being approx. 7·5.

8. Neither K concentration nor pH is responsible for the inactivity of sperm in semen.

9. A hormone, Androgamone I, is often considered to be responsible for the inactivity of spermatozoa in non-mammalian semen. No support has been found for this view and it is concluded that in E. esculentus semen the spermatozoa are motionless through lack of O₂.

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