Abstract
The motility of live spermatozoa indicating energy requirement and thus presence of intrinsic metabolic pathways in the cell has led researchers to speculate relationship of sperm metabolism with semen quality parameters. Over the period, many assays, some quantitative and some qualitative, to estimate metabolic aspects of sperm life have been developed. Investigators have reported significant relationship of metabolic assays with that of sperm concentrations and motility. Moreover, a significant relationship of resazurin reduction assay with that of oxidative stress of spermatozoa has also been reported recently. This chapter outlines principle and procedures involved in various assays employed for estimating metabolic rates of bovine spermatozoa. Modification of resazurin assay to objectively measure colour changes using spectrophotometer and, in fructose estimation, protocols to evaluate metabolic rates in sperm suspension and frozen-thawed samples have been included.
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Key References
Salisbury and others. See above [5] In-depth discussion and excellent background information related to physiology of sperm metabolism and application of various assays in determining sperm metabolism
Zalata et al. See above [16] Pointed out relationship of resazurin reduction rate with oxidative stress of spermatozoa
Lu and co-workers. See above [19] Described in detail assay to determine seminal fructose concentration and in sperm suspension, and need to stabilize the standard fructose solution prepared in water
Anderson and co-workers. See above [22] This group of researchers have provided in-depth discussion of enzymatic assay to determine sperm metabolism, with stepwise description of related protocol
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Srivastava, N., Pande, M. (2017). Estimating Metabolic Activity of Spermatozoa. In: Srivastava, N., Pande, M. (eds) Protocols in Semen Biology (Comparing Assays). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5200-2_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5200-2_10
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