SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LIBERATION OF HYALURONIDASE FROM TESTES HOMOGENATE AND SPERMATOZOA IN THE RAT1

Abstract
The hyaluronidase level produced by sperm removed from the uterus of a rat and kept at 37 [degree]C increased with time. This was accompanied by a marked loss of motility of the sperm. Using rat testes homogenates and sperm suspensions it was possible to increase the level of this enzyme in the surrounding medium by subjecting the cells to adverse treatment such as freezing, incubation, and toluene but not with acid. These results indicated the importance of establishing the source of hyaluronidase, i.e., living or moribund germ cells, if enzyme assays of semen or tissue samples were to be made.