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Uptake of α-aminosobutyric acid (ABI) by rooster spermatozoa |
N. Fujihara, O. Koga |
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Abstract |
This experiment was designed to determine whether 慣-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) can be used to predict membrane function of spermatozoa by measuring the uptake of AIB by fresh, stored and frozen-thawed rooster spermatozoa. When spermatozoa were stored at low temperature (0~3째C) for 24 h, no difference was found in AIB uptake compared with fresh spermatozoa, whereas storage for 48 h resulted in a slight increase in AIB uptake by spermatozoa. On the one hand, the uptake of AIB by frozen-thawed spermatozoa was less than that by fresh spermatozoa. This suggests possibility of a different membrane transport system between spermatozoa preserved at low temperature (0~3째C) and those frozen-thawed. Glycerol used as cryoprotectant may modify rooster sperm membrane in a different manner from cold preservation. Ouabaine (10-4 M) caused a slight decrease in AIB uptake, but caffeine (10-2 M) did not influence spermatozoal AIB uptake. These results indicate a successful application of AIB to rooster spermatozoa as a mean for measuring sperm membrane function and suggest a possible alteration of membrane transport system in rooster spermatozoa between cold (0~3째C) and cryopreservation (-196째C). |
Keywords:
Rooster; Spermatozoa; Preservation; Membrane; AIB Uptake; Freeze-Thaw |
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