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Published June 1970 | Published
Journal Article Open

Chemotactic Turning Behaviour of Tubularia Spermatozoa

Abstract

1. The movements of Tubularia spermatozoa in the vicinity of micropipettes filled with extracts of female hydranths, which chemotactically attract the spermatozoa, have been recorded by multiple-flash photomicrography. 2. When a spermatozoon turns in response to a chemotactic stimulus, the flagellum continues to beat, with a highly asymmetrical pattern of bending, during the turn. 3. The magnitude of the turn, particularly the duration of the period of asymmetrical beating, is variable, but each spermatozoon is only able to make turns in one direction, relative to its own body. 4. Most of the behaviour of these spermatozoa may be explained if the turning mechanism is activated when the spermatozoon detects a decreasing concentration of the chemotactant.

Additional Information

© 1970 The Company of Biologists Ltd. Received December 16, 1969. This work has been supported in part by a grant from the United States Public Health Service (GM-14613). It is a pleasure to acknowledge the able technical assistance of Bruce Benedict during many parts of this project.

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Created:
August 19, 2023
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October 18, 2023