INHIBITION OF RESPIRATION IN SEA URCHIN SPERMATOZOA FOLLOWING INTERACTION WITH FIXED UNFERTILIZED EGGS. II. CAPACITY OF THE GLUTARALDEHYDE FIXED UNFERTILIZED EGGS FOR THE INHIBITION OF THE SPERM RESPIRATION*

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Abstract
Glutaraldehyde-fixed unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, P. depressus, which bound spermatozoa, were capable of causing an inhibition of respiration in 2.3 .+-. 0.27 .times. 104 spermatozoa/ egg. After stirring a suspension containing fixed eggs (2 .times. 103-2 .times. 104/ml) and a number of spermatozoa larger than 2.5 .times. 104/egg for 15 min at 20.degree. C, the fixed eggs isolated from the suspension caused no inhibition of respiration of fresh spermatozoa and were incapable of binding fresh eggs. Fixed eggs treated with a smaller number of spermatozoa than 2 .times. 104/egg had a capacity to bind spermatozoa and inhibited sperm respiration. Unless the fixed eggs lost the sperm-binding capacity, they exerted an inhibitory effect on the respiration of spermatozoa.