FACTORS THAT CHANGE AGGLUTINABILITY OF AGEING SPERM

¹ COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Previous studies demonstrated that with increasing overripening of eggs or of sperm, or both, agglutination values increased correspondingly.

The present study demonstrates that precocious overripening of sperm, by dilution, gave rise to a correspondingly precocious and markedly progressive increase in agglutination.

This precocious increase occurred when the dry sperm were overripe. The increase began in 5 to 20 minutes after the initial test. Maximum values occurred 15 to 125 minutes after the initial test. The increase in values ranged from 77 to 328 per cent. The greater the overripeness of the dry sperm the greater the increase, the earlier the maximum and the sooner the cycle ended.

Suspensions made of ripe sperm either did not increase at all or only slightly. The agglutination values then decreased progressively. This is the phase heretofore described.

The cyclical increase and decrease in agglutination was not due to a change in the eggs, nor jelly, nor temperature, nor to a changed OH ion concentration.

This increase in agglutination is not due to a substance liberated by sperm. For agglutination values were not increased when the concentration of sperm was increased from 1 to 25 per cent., the maximum concentration usable. The values were the same whether ripe or overripe sperm were used.

Sufficient time elapsed for the substance, if present, to be liberated.

The CO₂ liberated by sperm has considerable effect upon the activity of the sperm, upon aggregation, but does not increase agglutination.

The cyclical agglutination change is due to a physiologic change in ageing sperm, manifested in a changing metabolism, gelation, viscosity, permeability, and in an increased reaction of sperm to a given dose of agglutinin.

This cyclical change is paralleled by the eggs, which increases agglutinin liberation.

It is therefore concluded that the cyclical physiologic change in overripening is responsible for the improving phase in both germ cells, and with subsequent senescence. This physiologic change is analogous to that in agglutinating bacteria.

Sperm are not a biologic constant, as heretofore believed, but undergo marked physiologic changes with corresponding marked and progressive increase in agglutinability followed by progressively decreasing agglutinability.