The heat production of human spermatozoa and seminal plasma; with comparative observations on bull semen

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Abstract
The aerobic and anaerobic heat production of human semen, spermatozoa and seminal plasma has been examined in an isothermal calorimeter, capacity 2.4 ml., working at atmospheric pressure. The heat production of bull semen, spermatozoa and seminal plasma was also measured, for comparison. The anaerobic heat production of human spermatozoa (in semen), per unit number of cells, is markedly higher than that of bull spermatozoa (in semen). The ratio may reach 4:1. Up to two-thirds of the heat production of human semen originates in the seminal plasma. The contribution of seminal plasma to the heat production of bull semen is insignificant. The anaerobic heat production of human seminal plasma is more than fifty times as great as that of bull seminal plasma. When anaerobic bull semen is aerated by mixing it in the calorimeter with an aerated diluent, there is a sudden burst of heat production. The same phenomenon occurs when human semen is mixed with an aerated diluent, though the effect is less marked. It is concluded that differences between the metabolism of human and bull spermatozoa are quantitative and not qualitative. (In the past, human spermatozoa have sometimes been said to be unique in being unable to respire, in spite of containing cytochrome.) The pronounced difference between the aerobic and anaerobic heat production of bull and human seminal plasma is due to enzymatic reactions which take place in the latter. 23 m[image]-phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, inhibits the O2 uptake of human spermatozoa.

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