HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Foote, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Foote, R. H.

Influence of Light and Agitation on Bovine Spermatozoa Stored with Protective Agents

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

ABSTRACT

Bovine spermatozoa were stored at 5 C in the Cornell University Extender (CUE) consisting of 20% egg yolk medium and exposed to 2,150 lux of illumination. Viability of spermatozoa following agitation and exposure to light was determined in a series of factorially arranged experiments combining the effects of catalase, N₂ gassing, spectral filtering of the light, and the radiation-protective agent, ß-mercaptoethylamine (MEA). Both light and agitation were spermicidal (P < .01). The two factors interacted dramatically, causing rapid immobility of spermatozoa stored in the air, whereas progressive motility in other treatments was retained for more than 12 days. Replacement of air with N₂ in sealed glass ampules was highly effective and catalase was partially effective in negating this harmful effect on motility of spermatozoa (P < .01). Attempts to remove all traces of O₂ with MEA were thwarted by toxicity of MEA to spermatozoa. These results indicate that only part of the amaging effect of O₂ is catalase specific (H₂O₂ formation), and that other harmful mechanisms may be inhibited by replacement of air with N₂. Spectral filtering of white light revealed that the blue region was particularly damaging to spermatozoa and to catalase. The spectral characteristics of the cytochromes suggest that these heme proteins, like catalase, may be particularly sensitive to the blue light and serve as photon acceptors, thus initiating a series of photochemical reactions damaging to the cell.