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Journal of Experimental Biology 30,200-213 (1953)
Published by Company of Biologists 1953

The Effect of Washing on the Motility and Metabolism of Ram, Bull and Rabbit Spermatozoa

I G. WHITE ¹

¹ Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia

1. The motility, oxygen uptake and aerobic glycolysis of unwashed, once- and twice-washed ram, bull and rabbit spermatozoa have been studied in a sodium phosphate-fructose diluent over a 5 hr. period at 37° C.

2. The mean ZO₂ values obtained over the first hour for ram, bull and rabbit spermatozoa were 13.6, 13.3 and 7.1 respectively, and the corresponding mean total lactic acid production for each of these species over the 5 hr. period was 297, 439 and 413 µg./10⁸ cells. Significant differences in oxygen uptake, lactic acid production and motility occurred between pooled ejaculates.

3. There was a decline in motility in almost all experiments, and a similar decline in oxygen consumption during the early hours. Towards the end of some experiments on unwashed ram and rabbit spermatozoa there was a rise in oxygen uptake which was shown to be due to bacterial contamination.

4. Washing once had no significant effect on motility, but washing twice adversely affected the motility of ram spermatozoa.

5. Significant decreases in total oxygen uptake occurred on washing ram spermatozoa twice and on washing rabbit spermatozoa both once and twice. This is believed to be due to the removal of bacteria.

6. Washing once had no significant effect on total lactic acid production, but it was significantly reduced on washing ram, bull and rabbit spermatozoa twice. This effect is believed to be associated with the spermatozoa themselves.