Free Amino Acids in Porcine Spermatozoa

Abstract

The free amino acids in spermatozoa from two ejaculates from each of six mature Yorkshire boars were determined by ion exchange chromatography using a Dowex 50-x 12 resin. Twenty amino acids were identified by comparison with standards and by peak enhancement, and were quantified as the percentage each contributed to the total amino acids in a semen sample. Glutamic acid was the major amino acid in each sample, averaging 23.8% compared to 7.3% for serine, the second most prevalent amino acid. Aspartic acid, taurine, lysine and threonine averaged from 6.5 to 5.9% in descending order, respectively. Similarly arginine, leucine, proline, alanine and glycine averaged from 5.5 to 4.6%. Ornithine, valine and isoleucine averaged from 3.6 to 3.0%. Cysteic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, cysteine and methionine averaged from 2.3 to 0.5%. In addition, an unidentified peak of variable shape and larger than the glutamic acid peak was observed. Differences among boars or ejaculates within boars were not significant for any of the amino acids. Copyright © 1967. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1967 by American Society of Animal Science