STUDIES IN THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SPERMATOZOA. 



2O I 



sea water and one of the main causes of this phenomenon is also 

 known, namely oxidations. If the oxidations are inhibited 

 through the removal of oxygen or the addition of KCN the life 

 of the eggs can be prolonged" 1 (Loeb, J., 1915, p. 282). 



It is probable that oxygen lack also plays a part in increasing 

 the length of life of concentrated sperm suspensions. McClendon 

 (McClendon, Gault and Mulholland, 1917) has recently esti- 

 mated that respiration that raises the hydrogen potential of sea 

 water (of excess base 23) to approximately 7.6 uses up all of the 

 available oxygen. 



The experiments of Drzewina and Bohn have been repeated 

 and the results substantially confirmed. Spermatozoa are quite 

 inactive in the concentrations of KCN that are most effective in 

 prolonging the life of spermatozoa. The results of several ex- 

 periments follow. 



TABLE XII. 



THE EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF KCN TO SEA WATER ON THE LENGTH OF 



LIFE OF THE SPERM SUSPENSION. 



Experiment 14. 



Experiment 27. 



1 The way in which KCN effects the oxidations of cells need not be discussed 

 in connection with these experiments. For' a discussion of this question see Lillie, 

 R. S., 1916, page 311, and Child, C. M., 1915, p. 66). 



- Insemination took place in 10 c.c. of sea water in this experiment. 



