Maintenance of ATP concentrations in and of fertilizing ability of fowl and turkey spermatozoa in vitro

Abstract

Fowl and turkey spermatozoa, when diluted in a glutamase-based medium and incubated at 40.degree. C under aerobic conditions showed a similar rate of O2 utilization and maintained similar cellular ATP concentrations. Under anaerobic conditions, the glycolytic metabolism of fowl spermatozoa was sufficient to maintain a high ATP concentration, while turkey spermatozoa had a much lower glycolytic ability and their ATP levels fell rapidly. The maintenance of high sperm ATP concentrations was directly related to subsequent fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa. Diluted fowl semen showed good fertilizing ability (> 70%) under aerobic conditions and under anaerobic conditions in the presence of 10 mM-glucose, but diluted turkey semen maintained good fertilizing ability only under aerobic conditions.