Stability of the sperm plasma membrane of hibernating bats (Myotis velifer) compared with other mammals

Previous experiments have established that the long-lived spermatozoa of hibernating bats are resistant to the acrosome reaction and fertilization in vitro using conventional techniques. We tested the hypothesis that the membranes of these spermatozoa are more resistant to perturbation than those of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 97; no. 1; pp. 1 - 4
Main Authors Crichton, E G, Krutzsch, P H, Yanagimachi, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Society for Reproduction and Fertility 01.01.1993
Subjects
Animals
Cell Membrane - drug effects
Cell Membrane - physiology
Cell Membrane Permeability - drug effects
Cell Survival - physiology
Cells, Cultured
Chiroptera - physiology
Cold Temperature
Cricetinae
Hibernation - physiology
Hot Temperature
Humans
Lipid Bilayers - antagonists & inhibitors
Male
Membrane Lipids - metabolism
Mesocricetus
Rabbits
Species Specificity
Sperm Motility - drug effects
Sperm Motility - physiology
Spermatozoa - physiology
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Summary:Previous experiments have established that the long-lived spermatozoa of hibernating bats are resistant to the acrosome reaction and fertilization in vitro using conventional techniques. We tested the hypothesis that the membranes of these spermatozoa are more resistant to perturbation than those of other mammals. We exposed them to non-specific bilayer destabilizing agents and abrupt changes in incubation temperature and tested their response by observing their status (motility and viability) after a time interval compared with other mammals (golden hamster, rabbit, human). The results did not support the hypothesis. The inherent longevity of bat spermatozoa may thus be a function of some component other than unique resilience of their plasma membrane.
ISSN:1470-1626
0022-4251
1741-7899
DOI:10.1530/jrf.0.0970001