Relationship between ATP content and motility in bovine spermatozoa with reference to the effects of the bull and the A.I. centre.
Deep-frozen semen from 28 bulls belonging to 6 different A.I. centres was studied after thawing and the ATP content in the spermatozoa was assayed using a bioluminescence technique. The sperm motility was subjectively estimated under a phase contrast microscope and the sperm concentration of each ejaculate was calculated in a haemocytometer. The overall mean ATP content was 16.6 nmoles ATP/spermatozoa x 10(8). There was a significant variation in ATP content between A.I. centres. Significant differences between bulls in ATP content were found as well as a significant correlation between ATP concentration and the number of motile spermatozoa. This may indicate that ATP assessment may be useful as an additional, objective laboratory test.
Söderquist
L
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
Stålhammar
E M
EM
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate