Abstract
This study investigated the effects of different environmental conditions on the initiation and maintenance of sperm motility in amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense. The findings were that: (1) hyperosmolality in the absence of Ca 2+ ions did not initiate amphioxus sperm motility; (2) addition of Ca 2+ into EGTA-containing Ca 2+-free artificial sea water (ASW), in which no sperm were motile, restored sperm motility; (3) Ca 2+ failed to induce sperm motility under conditions of hypoosmolality; (4) K + channel blockers quinine and 4-aminopiridine did not suppress the initiation of sperm motility; and (5) changes in pH did not cause sperm motility in a solution isotonic to seawater without Ca 2+. In conclusion, we inferred that a concerted action between Ca 2+ and hyperosmolality was essential to initiate motility of amphioxus sperm, whereas K + and pH were indispensable to maintain motility.
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