CHOLINE ESTERASE IN PIG SPERMATOZOA

Abstract
A high activity, equivalent to that of mammalian brain, of acetylcholine esterase was observed in pig spermatozoa. This finding may have physiologic significance since acetylcholine activated spermatozoal motility, whereas eserine inhibited it. The choline esterase was assumed to be of the "specific" type, since the enzyme did not split benzoylcholine at all and less butyrylcholine than acetylcholine. Caffeine inhibited the acetylcholine esterase activity of pig spermatozoa, but did not affect their motility.