Cytoskeletal control of sperm release in Chara contraria

• Published in: Botanica Marina
• Main Authors: Jin, Qiaojun, Hasenstein, Karl H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2009
• Subjects: Plant Science; Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Chara contraria
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bot.2009.014; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/BOT.2009.014/xml; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/BOT.2009.014/pdf

Abstract The spermatozoid release process from antheridial filaments of Chara contraria was studied using cytoskeletal drugs and ATPase inhibitors. The drugs did not change the onset of spermatozoid release, but affected other factors. The myosin ATPase inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) inhibited spermatozoid movement before release, and the microtubule (MT) inhibitor oryzalin and the F-actin inhibitor latrunculin B (LatB) accelerated spermatozoid movement after release. Spermatozoids released into 10 and 20 mM BDM solutions were completely immobile and the nucleus was deformed. None of the three drugs affected spermatozoid release rate, but they synchronized the release between individual antheridial filaments. After release, the size of the spiral-shaped spermatozoid increased over time. This size increase was reduced by oryzalin but increased by LatB. The data suggest that MTs and F-actin are involved in spermatozoid release and mobility in Chara contraria . The spiral shape of the nucleus of the spermatozoid is affected by both MTs and F-actin.