Relationship between transmembrane potential and activation of motility in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract

A hypothesis is developed that activation of motility in rainbow trout spermatozoa is a result of membrane hyperpolarization. This hypothesis was developed to explain experimental observations of a relationship between membrane potential and motility as revealed by the use of voltage sensitive fluorescent dyes. The results lead to the following conclusions: a) Transmembrane potential hyperpolarizes with decreasing KCl concentration in 100 mM NaCl. b) Transmembrane potential hyperpolarizes with decreasing NaCl concentration. c) NaCl is three time less effective in changing transmembrane potential and two orders of magnitude less effective in inhibiting activation of motility than KCl. d) Chloride ions have little effect on transmembrane potential or motility. e) Increases in osmotic pressure with the non-ionic molecule sucrose increased the amount of KCl required to inhibit activation. f) The major effect of Na⁺ on K⁺ inhibition may be osmotic.

It is suggested that while sperm cells are in the seminal plasma in the reproductive tract of the male rainbow trout their transmembrane potential is maintained above an activation threshold, probably through Na/K pumps which are found in almost all animal cells. Since K⁺ is the most important ion in determining the transmembrane potential, hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane below an activation threshold occurs when the sperm cells are diluted, during spawning, into the low K⁺ environment of freshwater.