Effects of the optical isomers of α-chlorohydrin on glycolysis by ram testicular spermatozoa and the fertility of male rats

Abstract

Summary. When 0·1 mM-S α-chlorohydrin was present in incubations, glycolysis by ram testicular spermatozoa was almost completely inhibited whereas 10 mM-R α-chlorohydrin had no effect. Male rats dosed orally with S α-chlorohydrin (3·25 mg/kg/day) became much less fertile than controls but those dosed with R α-chlorohydrin (13 mg/kg/day) did not. The loss of fertility was associated with a reduced ability of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of these rats to oxidize glucose. It is concluded that the S enantiomer is responsible for both the inhibition of sperm glycolysis and the reduction in fertility caused by the racemic mixture of α-chlorohydrin.