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Journal of Experimental Biology 8,194-201 (1931)
Published by Company of Biologists 1931

Iodine Compounds and Fertilisation : III. The Fertilisable Life of the Eggs of Echinus Esculentus and Echinus Miliaris

G. S. CARTER 1

1 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Zoological Laboratories of the Universities of Glasgow and Cambridge, and the Marine Laboratory, Millport

1. The presence of thyroxine in a current of sea-water in which eggs of either E. esculentus or E. miliaris are being washed prolongs the fertilisable life of the eggs.

2. Under these conditions the fertilisable life of the eggs is of approximately the same length as that of eggs which are aerated in a small quantity of sea-water.

3. Des-iodo-thyroxine and free iodine also prolong the life of eggs, when they are present in the medium, but the prolongation produced by them is much less than that produced by thyroxine. No other of several chemical substances related to thyroxine produce this effect. Changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration of the medium between pH 7.2 and 9.4 have very little effect upon the length of life of the eggs.

4. It is concluded that the component of the secretions which is essential to the activation of the egg can be replaced by thyroxine, and is therefore the same as the component which produces effects similar to those of thyroxine on the oxygen consumption of the sperm. It is also concluded that it is probable that this substance, besides being similar to thyroxine in physiological action, is related to it in chemical structure.

Submitted on December 27, 1930






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1931