Fatty acids in semen

Abstract

The concentrations of volatile fatty acids and free fatty acids (long-chain) in bull, ram, rabbit, fowl, dog, stallion and human semen were determined. The volatile fatty acid concentration ranged from 008 to 2.73 m-equiv./l and there were no outstanding differences between ruminants and non-ruminants. Values for free fatty acid content ranged from 0.01 m-equiv./l for dog prostatic fluid to 021 m-equiv./l for ram semen. Chromatographic evidence indicated that acetic acid and formic acid were present in bull and rabbit semen, but in the other species examined acetic acid was the only volatile fatty acid detected. No significant correlation was found between the volatile fatty acid concentrations in the semen and blood of rams. The volatile fatty acid concentration of ram epididymal fluid was similar to that of whole semen. It is concluded that volatile fatty acid and free fatty acid (long-chain) concentrations in the semen of the species examined is too low to be of importance for the spermatozoa as a substrate after ejaculation.