Metabolism of Bovine Semen. II. Qualitative Anaerobic Catabolism of Glucose-C14 by Bovine Spermatozoa

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Abstract
Washed bovine spermatozoa were incubated with uniformly labeled glucose-C14 in Ringer-phosphate solution and the products of catabolism were studied. The products were separated into classes by subjecting the incubation medium successively to absorption of CO2, precipitation with trichloroacetic acid, neutral distillation, acid steam distillation, alkaline ether extraction, and acid ether extraction. Those preparations showing considerable radioactivity were further purified by the preparation of derivatives or by ion exchange chromatography. The major portion of the radioactivity appeared in lactic acid, although appreciable activity also was found in CO2, volatile acids and an unidentified compound. Relationships among the specific activities of the compounds studied indicate that spermatozoa probably metabolize glucose to lactic acid, and that the lactic acid may be broken down further to CO2, acetate and other compounds. Results with immotile spermatozoa, however, indicated that CO2 may be formed without passing through the intermediate stage of lactic acid.

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