Stimulation of sperm motility and oxygen consumption of fowl spermatozoa by a low molecular weight fraction of seminal plasma

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Abstract
Washed fowl spermatozoa were incubated in a phosphate buffer containing various concentrations of fowl seminal plasma at 41.degree. C, normal body temperature, and the motility and oxygen consumption of spermatozoa were determined. Immediately after the incubation, spermatozoa showed good motility in the various diluents. However, with concentrations of seminal plasma .ltoreq. 20%, spermatozoa quickly became immotile. In contrast, at concentrations > 40% seminal plasma, spermatozoa were motile even after 15 min. As the concentration of seminal plasma was increased, O2 consumption of spermatozoa also increased. A filtrate of the seminal plasma, obtained by passing the fluid through an Amicon YM-2 ultrafiltration membrane (MW < 1000), also stimulated the motility and O2 consumption of spermatozoa. Some low MW factor(s) in fowl seminal plasma stimulated motility and O2 consumption of fowl spermatozoa at 41.degree. C. A physiological role of this factor(s) may be to assist passage of spermatozoa through the vagina after natural mating.