Effect of -chlorohydrin on glucose metabolism by spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

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Abstract
.alpha.-Chlorohydrin (3-chloropropan-1,2-diol) produces reversible infertility in male animals of several species including the rhesus monkey. Spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of the rhesus monkey had metabolic properties similar to those for ejaculated spermatozoa. The concentration of glycolytic intermediates was low until 2 mM-glucose was added; glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate and the triose phosphates then increased but glycerate 3-phosphate did not. Evidently the activity of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) limited flux through the glycolytic pathway. The production of lactate and CO2 from glucose was strongly inhibited in the presence of 5 or 10 mM-.alpha.-chlorohydrin. The energy charge of the spermatozoa was low before and after 1 h incubation with 2 mM-glucose (0.5 .+-. 0.05 and 0.05 .+-. 0.06, respectively) and the value after the incubation was decreased in the presence of 5 or 10 mM-.alpha.-chlorohydrin (0.17 .+-. 0.05 and 0.15 .+-. 0.04, respectively). .alpha.-Chlorohydrin inhibited glycolysis at the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase reaction.