RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTACTNESS AND ADENINE-NUCLEOTIDE PATTERN OF EJACULATED BULL SPERMATOZOA

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (7) , 791-808
Abstract
The intactness of bull spermatozoa was determined by external succinate exclusion. This was oxygraphically measured in the presence of cytochrome c after inhibition of the cell respiration with rotenone. An addition of cytochrome c was necessary for reproducible damaged cell respiration. The intact cell portion determined in this way correlated with that obtained by the fluorescent dye primuline. The content of adenine nucleotides [ADN] and the percentage of ATP of washed fresh spermatozoa depended on the sperm sample intactness. The ADN pattern of spermatozoa after deep freezing corresponded to that of washed fresh ejaculates with a high percentage of damaged cells. The major part of ejaculates tested showed only a small increase of damaged cells during substrate-free incubations at 38.degree. C up to 4 h under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Ejaculates which showed a drastic damaged cell increase were not recognizable by the initial damaged cell portion. A lowered ATP content in the cells was no indicator of an increased fragility of the cell membrane. A remarkable loss of total ADN was observed under cold shock conditions. Apparently the changes in the sperm membrane induced by cold shock were qualitatively different in comparison with changes caused by storage and by a slow decrease in temperature.

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