Inhibition of the oxidative metabolism of human spermatozoa by a heat-labile factor in seminal plasma.
The effect of different media on the oxidative and glycolytic metabolism and on the motility of human spermatozoa has been investigated. Sperm resuspended in Ringer's solution produce more carbon dioxide than sperm in the original seminal plasma. In addition, sperm resuspended in heated seminal plasma have a higher carbon dioxide production and higher oxygen uptake than sperm in untreated seminal plasma. The mean lactic acid production was not significantly affected by different media. The motility of sperm in heated seminal plasma was poorer than that in untreated seminal plasma, although the percentage of cells that stained with eosin did not differ in the two media. After being heated, seminal plasma not only continued to take up oxygen but did so at a higher rate. The results of the present study suggest that seminal plasma contains a heat-labile component that inhibits the oxidative metabolism of human sperm but does not significantly alter sperm glycolysis.
D006019:Glycolysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*