PHOSPHOLIPIDS OF BOVINE SPERMATOZOA AND SEMINAL PLASMA

Abstract
Spermatozoal and seminal plasma lipids of 14 individual bulls were separated by column chromatography into neutral lipid and several phospholipid fractions. Elution progress was monitored by thin-layer chromatography. Each phospholipid constituent was determined by phosphorus analysis. Total lipid, cholesterol and plasmalogen contents were determined. The fatty acids and aldehydes of the cholineand ethanolamine phosphatide fractions were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography. The spermatozoal phospholipid comprised 35.6% phos-phatidyl choline, 28% phosphatidal choline, 20% phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 7.2% phosphatidal ethanolamine and 9.1% sphingomyelin. The seminal plasma phospholipid comprised 30% phosphatidyl choline, 23.6% phosphatidal choline, 10.5% phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 16.3% phosphatidal ethanolamine, 14.1% sphingomyelin and 5.4% polyglycerol phosphatide. Myristaldehyde and palmitaldehyde were the only aldehydes identified in the choline and ethanolamine phosphatide fractions. Do-cosahexaenoic acid constituted a large portion of the fatty acids of spermatozoal choline phosphatide.