Adenosine 3´:5´-cyclic monophosphate in relation to motility and senescence of spermatozoa

Abstract

Abstract Spermatozoa of the ram, bull, boar, stallion and cock contain 37 to 177 pmol cyclic AMP/109 cells. Slow cooling of spermatozoa followed by storage causes only a minor decrease but cold shock leads to a rapid and nearly total loss of cyclic AMP, some of which passes into the external medium. Fructose prevents the loss of cyclic AMP in anaerobically incubated spermatozoa. Motility and synthesis of cyclic AMP are abolished by fluoride, but both are restored after removal of fluoride by washing. Determinations of cyclic AMP represent a sensitive indicator of the onset of senescence changes in spermatozoa.