The Effect of Egg-Secretions on the Activity of Spermatozoa

Abstract

1. Egg-secretions increase the rate at which the spermatozoa of E. esculentus absorb oxygen by about 300 per cent. Similar secretions may exert little or no effect on the respiratory level of the spermatozoa of E. miliaris. This difference between the species corresponds to the difference visible in the effect of the secretions on the mechanical activity of the two types of sperm. 2. In the presence of egg-secretions the respiratory activity remains constant at a high level for at least 1 hour, whereas in the absence of secretions the level falls to about 30 per cent, of its original value in the same period of time. This effect is observed in both E. esculentus and E. miliaris.