Zinc content in epididymal spermatozoa of metoclopramide-treated rats.

Zinc content was determined separately in spermatozoa taken from epididymal caput and cauda in rats. It was revealed that spermatozoa transported from the epididymal caput to the cauda reduce about 54% of zinc. This reduction is significantly inhibited in spermatozoa of rats receiving metoclopramide. That is also accompanied by a fall of testosterone level in blood serum and of delta 5, 3 beta-HSD activity in Leydig cells. It was found out that the reduction of zinc in spermatozoa at the time of their passage through the epididymis is the process that depends on androgens.