BEHAVIOR OF THE GAMETES 223 



they are integrated with the conditions which restrict permeability and egg 

 activation. 



b. Characteristics of the Male Gamete 



In contrast to the inertia and metaboHc quietude experienced by the female 

 gamete, the gamete of the male experiences quite opposite conditions. When 

 the sperm, for instance, is brought into an environment which favors motility, 

 such as the posterior region of the vas deferens of the mammal, it becomes 

 highly motile and continues this motility in the female genital tract. Similarly, 

 the normal sperm of other vertebrate species is a very active cell when placed 

 in the normal fertilization area (fig. 121, primary phase of fertilization). To 

 quote from J. Brachet ('50), page 91: "This very active cell has an intense 

 metabolism and the maintenance of this latter (condition) is indispensable 

 to the continuance of motility." As mentioned previously (Chap. 1 ), this high 

 respiratory metabolism at least in some species is supported partially by the 

 utilization of a simple sugar in the seminal fluid as the sperm "is rich in oxi- 

 dative enzymes and in hydrogen transporters" (J. Brachet, '50). 



2. Specific Activities of the Gametes in Effecting Physical 

 Contact of the Egg with the Sperm 



(Consult fig. 121, primary phase of fertilization.) 



While the gametes are in the condition mentioned, they are physiologically 

 adapted to fulfill certain definite activities which enhance their contact with 

 each other and bring about actual union in the fertilization process. 



a. Activities of the Female Gamete in Aiding Sperm and Egg Contact 



1) Formation of Egg Secretions Which Influence the Sperm. The activities 

 of the female gamete at this time are concerned mainly with the eftusion of 

 certain egg secretions. These secretions are known as gynogamic substances, 

 or gynogamones. They are elaborated by the egg when the latter becomes 

 physiologically mature, i.e., when it becomes fertilizable (fig. 137). 



A study of the natural secretions of the egg in relation to the fertilization 

 process has occupied the attention of numerous investigators. These studies 

 began during the early part of the twentieth century. In reference to the egg, 

 two main groups of substances have been recognized: 



( 1 ) the fertilizin complex, and 



(2) substances which induce the spawning reactions in the male. 



a) Fertilizin Complex. Some of the earliest studies upon fertilizin sub- 

 stances were made by von Dungern in '02, Schiicking in '03, and De Meyer 

 in '11. In these experiments an egg-water solution was obtained by allowing 

 ripe eggs of the sea urchin to stand in sea water for a period of time or by 

 disintegrating the eggs. All of these observers found that some substance from 



