Seminal lipids as energy substrate for the spermatozoa.
The level of fructose, NEFA, triglycerides and lipase activity were determined in the semen of 17 normozoospermic, 10 oligozoospermic and 10 azoospermic men. This was done immediately and 2 hours after seminal liquefaction. The levels of fructose and NEFA were significantly decreased while triglycerides show significant increase. These phenomena were more marked in normozoospermic, less marked in oligozoospermic and absent in azoospermic men. These results may indicate that both fructose and free fatty acids are utilized by sperms to supply energy or incorporated by them into triglycerides. No lipase activity was detected by the method used in the present work.
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase