In vitro swelling of the human sperm nucleus in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate.
The in vitro swelling of human sperm nuclei in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was studied by counting swollen sperm nuclei in a microscopic preparation and by measuring the decrease of optical density at 600 nm (OD600). At pH 8.0 or lower, OD600 showed a linear relationship to the sperm count. At higher pH values a fraction of the nuclei became swollen and OD600 decreased proportionally, although the sperm count did not change in the first 2 hr. The fraction of swollen sperm nuclei increased with time and by raising the pH or temperature. The swelling occurred only in the presence of SDS and was the consequence of a binding of SDS to the hydrophobic regions of the nuclear proteins.
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013864:Thioglycolates / Q000494:pharmacology
D013864:Thioglycolates; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D004492:Edetic Acid