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Energy metabolism of spermatozoa of the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis
Author(s) -
Mita Masatoshi
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080280310
Subject(s) - sea urchin , biology , sperm , metabolism , biochemistry , fatty acid , lipid metabolism , lipase , energy metabolism , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , endocrinology , enzyme
Energy metabolism in spermatozoa of the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis was examined. The spermatozoa contained not only several kinds of phospholipids and cholesterol but also triacylglycerides (TG). Following dilution of the dry sperm in sea water, the TG content decreased rapidly. Other lipids, however, remained at constant levels, except for an increase in the level of free fatty acid. Oil red‐O staining of spermatozoa showed that TG was principally located in part of the sperm midpiece. Also, high lipase activity was demonstrated in the spermatozoa. In both intact cells and a cell‐free system, 14 C‐labeled fatty acids were oxidized to 14 CO 2 . It is thus concluded that G. crenularis spermatozoa use TG as a substrate for energy metabolism.