RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS IN BULL SEMEN

Abstract

Alkaline and acid phosphatase levels, and various other semen characteristics, have been examined in 149 semen samples from twelve Holstein-Friesian bulls. Alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase mean values were 26.1[plus or minus]18.0 and 7.4[plus or minus]7.8 Sigma units/ml for spermatozoa free of seminal plasma and 105.7[plus or minus]42.5 and 24.7[plus or minus]11.8 Sigma units/ml for seminal plasma. Alkaline phosphatase activity of spermatozoa was significantly correlated with the percentage of motile spermatozoa, and percentage of live spermatozoa. When acid phosphatase values were adjusted for concentration of spermatozoa per sample, highly significant negative correlations were obtained with the percentage of motile spermatozoa and the percentage of live spermatozoa, and a positive correlation with the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. When alkaline phosphatase of seminal plasma and the alkaline phosphatase/acid phosphatase ratio in seminal plasma were adjusted for concentration of spermatozoa per sample, highly significant negative correlations were obtained with the percentage of motile spermatozoa and the percentage of live spermatozoa, and a positive correlation with the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. The percentage of motile spermatozoa was significantly correlated with alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in seminal plasma, whereas the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was negatively correlated with alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase.