| Popis: |
It is widely accepted that the waveform of the mammalian sperm flagellum is three-dimensional (1). The aim of this work is to discover the rules which govern the organization of bends into three dimensional configurations. By compiling a catalogue of the geometries recorded from free-swimming spermatozoa, we hope that a 3-D model will emerge to resolve the conflicting reports of the actual kinematics (2,3,4,5). We have used a new technique for 3-D reconstruction, involving two- colour darkfield micrography, coupled with computer-graphics (6,7). We present here some of the patterns seen in mouse spermatozoa at two stages of maturity: progressive cells from the cauda epididymidis, and cells ‘activated’ in vitro by the method of Fraser (8). |
