Motility and agglutination of fowl spermatozoa in media of different amino acid content and pH value in vitro
Barna, J.; Boldizsár, H.
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 44(2): 221-232
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0236-6290 PMID: 8908746 Document Number: 459289
The effects of different amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, gamma -aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine) and the pH of the environment at 24 degrees and 39 degrees C on the motility and agglutination of fowl spermatozoa were studied in vitro. Spermatozoa did not agglutinate in the presence of aspartic acid or glutamic acid, and became immobilized if the concentration of glutamic acid or the acidity of the environment was increased. In neutral solutions of GABA and glycine or in a slightly alkaline solution, characteristic plait-like conglomerations were seen. The motility of spermatozoa immobilized by glutamic acid was restored to a varying degree by the addition of GABA or glycine. At 24 degrees the spermatozoa became immobilized in a medium of pH 6.0; they showed maximum motility at pH 7.1. At 39 degrees spermatozoa were immobilized at higher pH (6.2) and required a pH value as high as 7.4-7.5 to show the highest motility. Spermatozoa inactivated in an acidic solution were immediately mobilized by alkalization of the medium, irrespective of the Ca2+ content of the solution. Thus, Ca2+ did not appear to be involved in the reactivation of spermatozoa. Nevertheless, marked differences were observed in the maintenance of sperm motility between solutions containing or lacking Ca2+. As the changes in amino acid concentrations and pH were affected the motility and agglutination of spermatozoa in vitro, they may also influence the regulatory mechanism of the uterovaginal sperm storage tubules during the egg formation cycle in vivo.