COMPOSITION OF RAM EPIDIDYMAL AND TESTICULAR FLUID AND THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF GLYCERYLPHOSPHORYLCHOLINE BY THE RABBIT EPIDIDYMIS

Abstract

Chemical analyses have been made on fluid from the testis, caput epididymis, cauda epididymis and vas deferens of the ram. The most striking finding was a decrease in the concentration of sodium and chloride in passing from the testis through the epididymis to the vas deferens with a corresponding increase in glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) and total phosphorus. The concentration of protein and total orcinol-reactive carbohydrate was also much higher in the epididymis and vas deferens than in the testis. The synthesis of GPC has been demonstrated in the head and tail of the rabbit epididymis both in vivo and in vitro using 32P orthophosphate.