title: Effect of physiological (in lamb) or drug-induced (in adult) immaturity of ram spermatozoa on seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase activity.
abstract: We have been able to collect ejaculates from four pre-pubertal Finnish Landrace and Suffolk lambs. Respective seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase specific activity was low (less than 0.3 mU/mg) whatever the season of observation. At puberty, it reached a level higher than 1 mU/mg as observed in adult rams. Administration of alpha-chlorohydrin to 14 adult rams (25 mg/kg/day during 25 days) led to the appearance of immature sperm. Seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase activity dropped from 1.5 to 0.5 mU/mg in both breeds, while fructose was raised from 2 to 6 mg/ml. L-carnitine and blood plasma testosterone remained unchanged during treatment. Semen characteristics appeared normal one month after the end of treatment when fructose concentration decreased simultaneously and enzymatic activity increased during two months to normal levels. The present findings suggest that seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase may be considered as a useful epididymal marker in ram.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Besancon
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lemay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013079:Sperm Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D000517:alpha-Chlorohydrin; D005959:Glucosidases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases