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Metabolism of Bull Semen. II. Fructolysis Relationships with Sperm Concentration and Fertility¹

Department of Dairy Science, State College of Washington, Pullman and Endocrine Section, Colorado A & M College, Ft. Collins²

ABSTRACT

The identification of fructose as the principal sugar in semen (14, 20) was accompanied by studies on several species, including the bull, which showed the accessory sex glands as sole contributors (11, 14, 25). Citric acid (24) and fructose (11, 13, 14, 24) content of semen has been suggested as an indicator of male sex hormone activity, though this has been questioned from studies of some subfertile bulls. In one such study (3) a failure of secretory structures to respond to the hormone was suggested.

Levels of fructose initially present in bull semen vary from 2 to 12 mg. per milliliter of semen (1–6, 8, 10, 16–19, 22, 24, 25).

Rate of fructose utilization (18, 19) by normal semen was first reported to be 1.4 to 2.0 mg. per hour per 10⁹ sperm at 37° C. and has been since substantially confirmed (2, 10, 12, 16, 17, 20).

¹ Scientific Paper No. 1426, Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Pullman. Project 1107.

² Colorado contribution to this study financed in part from 10b-funds, Dairy Husbandry Research Branch, USDA, Washington, D. C.