Assay of sperm motility to study the effects of metal ions

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6678123

Timourian, H; Watchmaker, G

A method for quantitating sperm motility is applied here to study the effects of metal ions on animal cells. The quantitative technique is based on orienting sperm by subjecting them to flow and then measuring their capacity for returning to randomness when the orienting force is discontinued. The optical anisotropy of sperm permits determination of orientation with a spectrophotometer equipped with a flow cell. A wide range of concentrations of zinc, copper, and nickel ions were tested to determine their effects on the motility of sea-urchin sperm. Sea urchins are a ready and convenient source of sperm. Since energy production in sperm depends on their limited supply of endogenous substrate, this test system gives us a simple screening procedure for comparing the effects of various agents on the cell's capacity for utilizing energy. Nickel at concentrations higher than 10..pi../sup 5/M had an initial depressing effect on motility; however, this effect was eventually overcome, and in some cases overcompensation resulted in an increase motility. Zinc had either an enhancing or a depressing effect, depending not only on its concentration but on the time of exposure. At 10/sup -5/M it enhanced motility if present at the time the sperm were first shed in seawater, the time of high respiration. At 10..pi../sup 4/M it depressed motility only if present during the period of decreasing respiration, 1 to 2 hr after being shed into seawater. Copper depressed activity at 10..pi../sup 4/M to 10..pi../sup 6/M at all times tested.

• OSTI ID: 6678123
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COPPER
ECHINODERMS
ELEMENTS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
INVERTEBRATES
MEASURING METHODS
METALS
NICKEL
SEA URCHINS
SENSITIVITY
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
SPERMATOZOA
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC