STUDIES IN THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SPERMATOZOA. 



193 



add one more 'factor, the hydrogen ion concentration. For 

 the length of life and the "fertilizing power" of a sperm suspen- 

 sion are dependent on the hydrogen ion concentration of the 

 suspension, and the "fertilizing power" of spermatozoa at the 

 same hydrogen ion concentration is in some way dependent upon 

 the sperm concentration. 



i 



THE EFFECT OF THE HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION UPON THE 

 FERTILIZING POWER OF SPERMATOZOA. 



The loss of "fertilizing power" of active sperm suspensions 

 of approximately the same concentration (0.04 per cent.) at 

 different hydrogen ion concentrations is graphically represented 



Kl 



k. 



vs 







* 



LOSS OF 



FertTiLiz.iHc; POWER OF SPKn*Tozofi, 



AT DlFFERE/vr 



HYDROGEN ION COA/CE N TRATION 



9.0 PA 

 8-4 Ph. 

 8.0 Ph. 



It 28 



MINUTES 



DIAGRAM IV. 



in Diagram IV. The curves are plotted from the data in Table 

 VI II. on the basis of maximum "fertilizing power" at Ph 9.0. 

 If but 50 per cent, of the eggs were fertilized at Ph 9.0 (as in ex- 

 periment 227-!.) and 24 per cent, at Ph 8.4 the ratio of the "fer- 

 tilizing powers" is of course as 100 to 48. 



