Use of spin labels to evaluate effects of cold shock and osmolality on sperm
Spin labels were used to evaluate the effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), rapid cooling to 0/sup 0/C and osmolality on the integrity of sperm membranes. In vitro incubation of rabbit sperm with 0.5 mM BHT prior to artificial insemination did not alter the fertilizing ability of the sperm. Sperm from 6 species were ranked in terms of susceptibility to membrane damage caused by rapid cooling to 0/sup 0/C. The integrity of bull and ram sperm membranes was destroyed by the rapid cooling; BHT protected membranes of these spermatozoa from cold-induced lysis. Boar sperm membranes were porous after rapid cooling and BHT did not prevent this membrane damage. Membranes of rabbit and rooster sperm were not damaged by rapid cooling to 0/sup 0/C. Stallion sperm could not be analyzed because their membranes were altered by addition of reagents necessary to use the technique. The responses of bull, ram and rabbit sperm membranes to hyper- and hypo-osmotic conditions were determined. Hypotonic treatment (less than 200 mOsm) resulted in a 50 percent expansion of the volume of the aqueous compartment of sperm while hypertonic (700 mOsm) conditions compressed the volume of the aqueous compartment to 25 to 30 percent of the volume measured at 300 mOsm. Bull sperm, but not rabbit or ram sperm, responded as ''perfect osmometers'' between 300 and 700 mOsm.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6687208
- Journal Information:
- Biol. Reprod.; (United States), Vol. 18:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Response of spermatozoa to hyposmotic stress reflects cryopreservation success
Trapped plasma vs. osmolality in canine microcapillary hematocrits
Related Subjects
CELL MEMBRANES
SPERMATOZOA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CATTLE
CHICKENS
COOLING
CRESOLS
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
HORSES
IN VITRO
LABELLING
LYSIS
OSMOSIS
POROSITY
RABBITS
SPECTROSCOPY
SWINE
VOLUME
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BIRDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
FOWL
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
RESONANCE
RUMINANTS
VERTEBRATES
550300* - Cytology