Concentrations Of Bulk Research Articles

Comparative studies of elemental composition on ejaculated fowl, bull, rat, dog and boar spermatozoa by electron probe x-ray microanalysis

1. 1. Comparative analyses of the concentrations of bulk and trace elements on the head, midpiece and tail regions of the ejaculated fowl, bull, rat, dog and boar spermatozoa were performed using X-ray microanalysis with scanning electron microscopy. 2. 2. Although the pattern of distribution of elements on the surface of the three different subcellular regions was, in general, similar among all the species, there were substantial shifts in absolute concentrations. 3. 3. Concentration of magnesium on the dog spermatozoa was significantly higher (about 2 times) than those of the other species. 4. 4. Zinc, copper, iron and manganese concentrations were higher on fowl spermatozoa compared with those of the other species studied. 5. 5. The Na-to-K ratios on the midpiece ranged from 1.46 (rat) to 2.26 (dog).

Distribution of Bulk and Trace Minerals in Bull Reproductive Tract Fluids and Semen

Summary Semen and seminal plasma and fluids from the testes, ampullae, and seminal vesicles have been analyzed for the concentrations of certain bulk and trace elements. Chloride concentrations also were determined for semen and seminal plasma of pooled ejaculates. The average values in milligrams per cent for semen and seminal plasma in the pooled samples of several consecutive ejaculates from individual bulls were, respectively: boron, 1.74, 1.73; phosphorus, 70, 40; magnesium, 9.8, 9.8; calcium, 22, 25; sodium, 227, 242; potassium, 173, 172, and chloride, 287, 330. The average of ten values in milligrams for semen and seminal plasma, respectively, of first ejaculates were: boron, 1.02, 1.48; phosphorus, 105, 55; magnesium, 12.1, 11.6; iron, .61, .35; calcium, 47, 51, and sodium, 263, 273. Iron is mainly a constituent of spermatozoa throughout the bull reproductive tract and in whole semen. Phosphorus is found in concentrations of less than 10 mg. % in seminal vesicle fluids and in 35 to 45 mg. % higher concentration in seminal plasma. Zinc and manganese were found in concentrations of less than 0.2 and 0.04 mg. % respectively, in all samples analyzed.