Year: 1973
Type: article
Abstract: Summary. The epididymides of five mature bulls were unilaterally isolated by ligation at the efferent ductules. After 1 month's delay and electroejaculation to ensure sperm clearance of the isolated epididymis, the epididymides were removed, divided into five segments and subjected to a radio-respirometric study. The metabolism of [1-14C]glucose (G-1), [2-14C]glucose (G-2), [3,4-14C]glucose (G-3,4), [6-14C]glucose (G-6), and uniformly labelled glucose (G-U) and fructose (F-U) by normal and spermatozoa-free bovine epididymal tissue in vitro was determined. The patterns of 14CO2 evolution were consistent with the Embden-Meyerhof and Krebs' cycle pathways of glucose metabolism, but utilization of G-1 exceeded G-6 throughout all zones. The mean G-1:G-6 ratio was 3·4 in control and treatment tissues which indicated a high rate of pentose-cycle activity. There was a significantly higher utilization of all substances by the control tissues over the treatment tissues. The F-U was utilized less than any of the labelled glucose substrates. Zone 3 (corpus epididymidis) of treatment and control tissues used substrates at a higher rate than any other zone. Zone 3 was also noted for its high rate of pentose-cycle activity giving rise to speculation about possible synthetic activity. Zone 5 (cauda epididymidis) was the least metabolically active of all the zones studied.
Source: Reproduction
Authors: T. T. TURNER, A. D. JOHNSON
Institution: University of Georgia
Language: English
Subfield: Reproductive Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2411797161