Metabolism of Bovine Semen. IV. Effects of Glycine and Glycerol on the Glycolytic and Respiratory Activity of Bovine Spermatozoa

Abstract

Comparisons of the glycolytic activity of bovine spermatozoa at 37[degree]C over a 3-hour period were made in heated milk (M), milk-glycine (MG), milk-glycerol (M-glycerol) and milk-glycine -glycerol (MGG), and in Ringer-phosphate (R), Ringer-phosphate-glycine (RG) and Ringer-phosphate-glycine-glycerol (RGG). Measurements of lactate revealed greater accumulation in M and in R than in the glycine and/or glycerol-containing diluents. Fructose changes were variable and showed no consistent trends. When the O2 uptake by washed spermatozoa was measured in the milk diluents only slightly higher values were obtained in MG and MGG than in M, but when saline was used instead of milk appreciable stimulation of O2 uptake occurred in the glycine and/or glycerol-containing preparations.