Oxidative and glycolytic metabolism of semen components by washed guinea pig spermatozoa.

The concentration of several potentially metabolizable substances in guinea pig semen and the ability of these substances to support ATP synthesis and the motility of guinea pig sperm have been determined. Both glucose and fructose were present in high concentration in semen and were equipotent at the concentration tested in maintaining high levels of ATP and a high rate of motility. Lactic and pyruvic acids also supported a high rate of sperm motility but maintained lower levels of ATP. These constituents of guinea pig semen, as well as the metabolites alpha-glycerophosphate, succinic acid, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid, are oxidized at unusually high rates. The active oxidative metabolism of guinea pig sperm is compared with that of human sperm which is primarily glycolytic.