OXIDATIVE AND GLYCOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF EJACULATED RAM SPERMATOZOA IN THE PRESENCE OF STEROID HORMONES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Progesterone*, 20α-OHP, 20β-OHP, androstanedione and testosterone depressed the respiration of washed ram spermatozoa and enhanced aerobic glycolysis. 17β-oestradiol, oestriol, androstenedione, 5β-androstanedione, pregnanedione and pregnanolone reduced respiration without stimulating aerobic glycolysis. Of the steroids tried, none stimulated anaerobic glycolysis. The steroids appeared to act principally on the oxidative phase of spermatozoal metabolism since the oxidation of isotopically labelled glucose, acetate and citric acid cycle intermediates were all depressed when spermatozoa were incubated in the presence of these steroids.