THE EFFECT OF SCROTAL INSULATION AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE BREEDING SEASON UPON FRUCTOSE CONCENTRATION IN THE SEMEN OF THE RAM

Abstract

SUMMARY Six rams have been subjected to insulation of the scrotum as a means of increasing the temperature of the testes, and the levels of fructose in semen estimated before, during and after such treatment. It was shown that during the period of scrotal insulation a fairly rapid increase in seminal fructose occurs, which only gradually returns to its normal level after termination of the treatment. No pronounced effect of scrotal insulation on libido has been established. Observations on ram semen collected towards the end of the breeding season show that a decrease in seminal fructose occurs immediately before the decline in libido becomes apparent, and at a time when the normal density range of spermatozoa is still maintained.