Magnetic Orientations of Bull Sperm Treated by DTT or Heparin |
D. Suga, A. Shinjo, E. Kurnianto, T. Nakada |
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Abstract |
This paper describes the magnetic orientation of the intact and demembranated bull sperm treated by DTT or heparin in a 5,400 G static field. Semen samples collected from four bulls (Japanese Black) were mixed to the same sperm density. One percentage triton X-100 was used to extract the plasma membrane. The intact and demembranated sperm suspensions were treated with 20, 200, 2,000 mM DTT, 100, 1,000 or 10,000 units heparin solutions at 4째C for 6 days. The decondensation of the sperm nuclei treated by DTT or heparin was examined by measuring the sperm head area at 1, 3, and 6 days. After measuring the area, each sperm sample was exposed to a 5,400 G static magnetic field generated by Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets for 24 hours at room temperature. Results showed that the decondensation of bull sperm nuclei was not induced by the heparin treatment, however, incomplete decondensation was induced by the DTT treatment. During the magnetic orientation, bull sperms treated by DTT or heparin had low percentages of long axis perpendicular to the magnetic lines of force. However, different aspects were obtained for long axis perpendicular orientations following treatment of DTT or heparin. Through the DTT treatment, the decline of long axis perpendicularly oriented percentages was due to the increase of long axis parallel orientation with the head of the flat plane perpendicular to the magnetic lines of force, whereas, using the heparin treatment, the decline of long axis perpendicular orientation was due to the increment of long axis parallel orientation with the head of the flat plane parallel to the magnetic lines of force. Also, percentages of the head of the flat plane perpendicular were decreased by the heparin treatment. These findings suggest that maintaining the structure of protamine in the chromatin is necessary for the sperm head to orient with its flat plane perpendicular, and maintaining the disulfide bond in the chromatin is necessary for the long axis of sperm to orient perpendicularly. |
Keywords:
Bull Sperm Nucleus; Sperm; DTT or Heparin; Magnetic Field; Orientation |
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