Year: 1957
Type: article
Abstract: The spermatozoa of the herring (Clupea pallasii), unlike those of most species of marine fishes, are almost motionless even after they are set free into sea water or into Ringer's solution. However, if these quiescent spermatozoa are brought to the micropyle area of the mature egg of homologous species, they begin to move actively. Micrurgical studies have revealed that the factor responsible for sperm activation is present on the surface of the egg-membrane around the micropyle (cf. Figs. 1 and 2). This sperm-stimulating factor is not removed from the egg-membrane even by rather violent washings with Ringer's solution. This fact seems to suggest that the factor in question is intimately bound on the surface of the egg-membrane. The sperm-stimulating factor is readily removed (or inactivated) by treatment with some reagents, such as CaCl2 solution, MgCl2 solution, weakly acidified Ringer's solution, trypsin Ringer's solution, and heated Ringer's solution (cf. Tables 1 and 2). When the sperm-stimulating factor is completely removed or inactivated by the action of the above-mentioned reagents, the egg becomes incapable of normal fertilization even if the egg proper is intact. Thus, the factor in question seems to be of special importance in the fertilization of the Clupea egg.
Source: NIPPON SUISAN GAKKAISHI
DOI: 10.2331/suisan.23.81
Author: Ryuzo YANAGIMACHI
Institution: Hokkaido University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4251128677