Summary
Interferometric dry mass and microspectrophotometric DNA and arginine determinations were carried out on 4000 sperm nuclei from 85 bulls. The results obtained are as follows:
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1.
Spermatozoa containing a constant haploid amount of DNA (3.04 × 10−9 mg.) also have a constant arginine content of 2.07 × 10−9 mg. with a DNA/arginine ratio of 1.47.
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2.
Spermatozoa containing variable and low amounts of DNA also have variable and usually higher amounts of arginine with a ratio of 0.95 for DNA/arginine.
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3.
However the dry mass of sperm nuclei with an abnormal DNA content is nearly the same as the dry mass of sperm nuclei with the normal haploid DNA content. The dry mass for each group is 7.3 × 10−9 mg. and 7.1 × 10−9 mg. respectively.
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4.
On the basis of the DNA, arginine and dry mass data, a protein content of 4.06 × 10−9 mg. containing 50% arginine can be computed for normal bull sperm nuclei.
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This investigation was supported (in part) by research grant A-787 from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, and in part by the Franchester Fertility Fund of Cleveland, Ohio.
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Leuchtenberger, C., Murmanis, I., Murmanis, L. et al. Interferometric dry mass and microspectrophotometric arginine determinations on bull sperm nuclei with normal and abnormal DNA content. Chromosoma 8, 73–86 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259494
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259494