The oxidation of glycerol 3-phosphate by testicular and epididymal spermatozoa

Abstract

1. 1. Glycerol 3-phosphate was oxidized rapidly by spermatozoa from rams, rats and boars but did not stimulate the oxygen uptake of human spermatozoa and had a relatively small effect on the respiration of rhesus monkey spermatozoa. 2. 2. The apparent K m for rac- glycerol 3-phosphate was <1.0 mM in all cases studied. 3. 3. There were no profound differences in glycerol 3-phosphate oxidation between epididymal and testicular spermatozoa whether from rams or rats. 4. 4. The glycerol 3-phosphate consumed by ram spermatozoa could be accounted for by the accumulation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and CO 2 but about 50% of the glycerol 3-phosphate consumed by rat spermatozoa was converted to an unknown product.