The Effect of Pyridium, Penicillin, Furacin, and Phenoxethol upon the Livability of Spermatozoa and upon the Control of Bacteria in Diluted Bull Semen

Abstract

Previous tests having shown that additions of several sulfonamides to diluted bull semen improved spermatozoan livability and reduced bacterial growth, the efficacy of other antibiotics in these respects was studied. Various concns. of pyridium, furacin, phenoxethol, and 2 brands of penicillin were added to 33 semen samples collected from fertile dairy bulls. Pyridium was only slightly soluble and had no detectable effect either on bacterial growth or spermatozoan livability. Furacin, phenoxethol, and both penicillins effectively controlled bacterial growth, but all excepting the 2d penicillin tested were spermicidal. Up to 800 U. of the 2d penicillin per ml. of diluted semen were successful in controlling bacterial growth without significantly effecting spermatozoan livability.