Seminal Amino Acid and Carbohydrate Pattern of Bulls with Normal and Abnormal Testes Function.

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative paper chromatography of normal bull semen showed that fructose was the only sugar present. Quantitation, using a Welch Densichron, agreed well with results by chemical methods. Castration caused a rapid loss of seminal fructose. Subsequent testosterone therapy restored it to or above normal levels. Vasectomy did not affect the normal seminal fructose level neither did subsequent testosterone admn. Normal bull semen or seminal plasma contains 5 free amino acids which, in order of decreasing concn., are glutamic acid, alanine, glycine, serine and aspartic acids. Testosterone therapy resulted in only a partial restoration, with alanine predominating instead of glutamic acid. Vasectomy, while not affecting either sex drive, plasma volume or fructose concn., resulted in a total loss of free amino acids, which was against expectation. Subsequent testosterone therapy caused a return of amino acids as in the castrates, but did not alter fructose levels. Examination of fluids obtained from normal seminal vesicles and ampullae vasa deferentia revealed an amino acid pattern similar to that found in normal semen. Concn. was considerably higher per unit volume in ampullar fluid with an additional acid, tyrosine, present.