Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1979 Aug;200(2):273-84.
doi: 10.1007/BF00236419.

In vitro activation and behavior of the ameboid sperm of Ascaris suum (Nematoda)

In vitro activation and behavior of the ameboid sperm of Ascaris suum (Nematoda)

M Abbas et al. Cell Tissue Res. 1979 Aug.

Abstract

A system is described for the study of activation and motility of Ascaris spermatozoa in vitro. Activation was accomplished by addition of the sperm-activating substances (SAS), extracted from the male accessory gland, to cells incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) at 37-39 degrees C under anaerobic conditions (95% N2, 5% CO2). Activation is characterized by a change from spherical to ameboid shape with coalescence of the refringent granules. The normal ameboid spermatozoa bear several stubby and needle-like filopodia at the lamellipodial margin. Within the lamellipodium are bundles of microfilament-like structures extending toward the pseudopodial membrane and concentrating within the needle-like filopodia. These filopodia exhibit a pendulous, sweeping motion with subsequent retraction and disappearence within the main lamellipodium. Membranes of the ameboid cells interact at the pseudopodial regions with partial fusion, as suggested by apparent membrane breakdown between interdigitating portions of the pseudopodia. Activation is complete in 5-15 min, is totally inhibited at 4 degrees C and/or by an atmospheric environment, but can be reinitiated by transfer to anaerobic conditions at 22-39 degrees C. Activation also requires favorable pH (6.8-8.7) and continual exposure to sufficiently high sodium concentrations (134-154 mM), i.e., lowering of sodium concentration to 10 mM causes irreversible inactivation. Sodium may be replaced by potassium or lithium but not by Tris or sucrose. Proteinases (10 microgram/ml) can act as activators even though SAS lack detectable proteolytic activity against azoalbumin, azocasein, TAME and BTEE and SAS activation was not inhibited by TLCK or soybean trypsin inhibitor.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Biochem J. 1944;38(4):333-8 - PubMed
    1. J Biol Chem. 1947 Feb;167(2):461-75 - PubMed
    1. J Cell Biol. 1976 May;69(2):275-86 - PubMed
    1. J Reprod Fertil. 1969 Mar;18(2):379-81 - PubMed
    1. J Cell Sci. 1974 Mar;14(2):319-30 - PubMed

Publication types