Figure 7.
Effect of extracellular pH in ascidian spermatozoa exposed to metabolic enhancers. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) (A), Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) detected by either H2DCFDA (B) or dihydroethidium (C) and intracellular pH (D) in ascidian sperm divided in five groups treated with: (a) five metabolic enhancers (vitamins B6 and B12, 5 methyl THF, zinc and N-acetyl cysteine) simply supplemented to FNSW (TRT group) and NFSW that was, after this supplementation, buffered at pH = 8.2 (TRT buf group); (b) n-acetyl-cysteine simply supplemented to FNSW (NAC group) and NFSW that was, after this supplementation, buffered at pH = 8.2 (NAC buf group); and (c) FNSW alone (CNTRL group). Mean (±SE) values obtained for each analytical determination were reported at 0, 90 and 180 min incubation. (n = 6 replications). Statistically significant differences between groups for each evaluated time point are expressed as different capital (A vs. B and C vs. D; P < 0.01) and small (a vs. b; P < 0.05) letters.