The distribution of carnitine and acetylcarnitine in the rabbit epididymis and the carnitine content of rabbit spermatozoa during maturation.

The highest levels of carnitine and acetylcarnitine were found in the cauda, and spermatozoa from the proximal cauda contained significantly greater amounts of carnitine than those removed from the corpus or caput epididymidis. Acetylcarnitine levels (as a % of the total carnitine pool) were greater in all regions of the rabbit epididymis than has been reported in other species. It is suggested that the accumulation of carnitine is involved in sperm maturation.