The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on Ram and Bull Spermatozoa

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Abstract
Ultraviolet light of wavelength 366 mu depressed the motility of spermatozoa more than that of wavelength 254 mu and the effect was greater when the spermatozoa were suspended in reconstituted skim milk diluent. When a synthetic diluent was used the slight detrimental effect of ultraviolet light was probably due to photo-chemical changes within the spermatozoa. This effect was offset by adding catalase, cysteine, or glutathione to the medium. The severe depression of motility which occurred when spermatozoa were suspended in milk diluent was due to the effects of ultraviolet light on milk itself. The addition of glutathione or cysteine to milk increased the survival of ram spermatozoa during irradiation; catalase had little effect.