Fertility of Bull Sperm with Added Catalase

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Spermicidal H2O2 is formed during metabolism of sperm, but bull sperm contain no catalase, an enzyme which is responsible for detoxification of H2O2. This experiment measured the effect of catalase upon the fertility of sperm extended either in Cornell University Extender (CUE) or in a milk extender and used to inseminate 23,837 cows. CUE resulted in averages of 77.5, 74.8, 68.3, and 69.5% 60-90 day non-returns for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of storage, respectively. The comparable averages for milk were 73.9, 70.1, 65.9, and 56.2; for CUE with catalase were 78.2, 74.0, 69.8, and 68.1; and for milk with catalase were 74.2, 74.9, 69.4, and 61.0. Failure to detect improvement from catalase in CUE was due to the inherent catalase in the egg yolk of CUE. The improvement from catalase in milk extender was largely attributable to lowered embryonic mortality.