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A thermodynamic study of sperm-egg interaction.

1983; Springer Nature; Volume: 2; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/j.1460-2075.1983.tb01699.x

1460-2075

Vittorio Elia, Floriana Rosati, G. Barone, Alberto Monroy, A. M. Liquori,

thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses

Research Article1 November 1983free access A thermodynamic study of sperm-egg interaction. V. Elia V. Elia Search for more papers by this author F. Rosati F. Rosati Search for more papers by this author G. Barone G. Barone Search for more papers by this author A. Monroy A. Monroy Search for more papers by this author A.M. Liquori A.M. Liquori Search for more papers by this author V. Elia V. Elia Search for more papers by this author F. Rosati F. Rosati Search for more papers by this author G. Barone G. Barone Search for more papers by this author A. Monroy A. Monroy Search for more papers by this author A.M. Liquori A.M. Liquori Search for more papers by this author Author Information V. Elia, F. Rosati, G. Barone, A. Monroy and A.M. Liquori The EMBO Journal (1983)2:2053-2058https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1460-2075.1983.tb01699.x PDFDownload PDF of article text and main figures. ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyWechatReddit Figures & Info We have studied the binding of spermatozoa to the receptor sites on the vitelline coat (VC) of glycerol-treated eggs (ghost eggs) of the Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis (Protochordate). Glycerol treatment cytolyses the egg without affecting the ability of the VC to bind spermatozoa in a species-specific manner; however, in this system binding is not followed by the acrosome reaction. The ghost eggs are metabolically inert. As a base line for our analysis, we have studied the concentration-dependent heat evolved and oxygen consumption of spermatozoa when diluted in sea water. The process has been analyzed on the basis of equations derived by Liquori and Tripiciano to describe cell growth. Upon binding to the ghost eggs, the spermatozoa produce an explosive heat evolution (excess heat) which is not accompanied by oxygen consumption. The excess heat produced plotted against sperm concentration (at constant egg concentrations) gives an asymmetric bell-shaped curve. This is interpreted as being due to the competitive effect of sperm agglutination at a high sperm concentration. It is concluded that only spermatozoa that attach singly (monomeric spermatozoa) to the egg undergo metabolic activation. Previous ArticleNext Article Volume 2Issue 111 November 1983In this issue RelatedDetailsLoading ...