The Effect of Sulfonamides upon the Livability of Spermatozoa and upon the Control of Bacteria in Diluted Bull Semen

Abstract

The effect of sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamerazine, sulfaguanidine, sulfaquinoxaline, Na sulfadiazine, carboxysulfathiazole, Na sulfamerazine, Na sulfamethazine, Nibenzoyl-sulfanilamide, sulfasuxidine, and Na sulfathiazole on spermatozoan livability and on bacterial growth in diluted bull semen was studied by adding various concn. of each sulfonamide to semen diluted at the rate of 1 part of semen to 9 parts of di-luter. 36 semen samples from fertile dairy bulls used in the study were stored at 37.5, 20, and 5 C. Bacterial growth was markedly inhibited by the sulfonamides at 37.5 and 20 C, but the effect was less pronounced at 5 C. Of the afore-mentioned sulfonamides the first 9 improved spermatozoan livability at 20 C. At 5 C sulfanilamide (300 mg. %) and carboxysulfathia-zole (75 mg. %) were superior to others tested. Sulfanilamide is currently added to semen used in artificial insemination.