The Fallopian Tube of the Sheep Iv. The Metabolism of Ram Spermatozoa in the Presence of Fluid from the Fallopian Tube

Abstract

Using isotopically labelled substrates, the metabolism of ram spermatozoa was examined in the presence of fluid from the fallopian tubes of normal ewes and spayed ewes receiving oestrogen and progesterone in factorial combination. The oxygen uptake of spermatozoa in tubal fluid was variable but was generally less than that of spermatozoa incubated in a saline diluent containing glucose (control). Due to the presence of lactate in the tubal fluids, the oxidation of added glucose by spermatozoa was consistently depressed when compared with the saline controls. On the other hand glucose utilization and lactate accumulation by spermatozoa were stimulated in the presence of tubal fluids in all experiments, the response being generally twice that of the controls. In addition, similar effects were found in fluids collected during two consecutive oestrous cycles.