Enzymes and electrolytes in the semen of Japanese quail.

Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) semen was collected at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., or 6 p.m. for four consecutive days during four consecutive weeks. All but the first day's collections were analyzed for sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, H+ concentration, cell count, volume and total sperm number. A random sample was then collected for the analysis of amylase and another random sample was collected for the analysis of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). The activities of GOT and LDH in quail semen were approximately ten times higher than those obtained for larger fowl (chickens and turkeys) and mammals. While CPK levels have not been measured in other animals, its activity in quail semen is probably also high. There was a significant difference between the enzyme activity of the sperm and seminal plasma for GOT and CPK. The parameters of sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, H+ concentration, cell count, volume, and total sperm number did not show a significant variation at the hours of 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. Three of these parameters (cell count, potassium, and chloride), however did show significant variation during collection over three consecutive days, the chloride decreasing and potassium and cell count first decreasing and then by the third day returning to levels of the first day. None of the parameters followed the sperm concentration closely enough to be of value as an index of quail fertility.