Kinetics of fructose utilization by buffalo spermatozoa.

Experiments have been conducted to estimate the fructolytic index, Fl (mg of fructose utilized by 10(9) spermatozoa in 60 minutes), Fructolytic Coefficient, Ku (Fractional decline in the spermatozoal fructolytic activity on an instantaneous basis), Maximum fructose utilization, MFU (mg of fructose utilized by 10(9) spermatozoa in one minute at zero incubation time on an instantaneous basis) and T 1/2 (Biological half life of semen) of buffalo spermatozoa. The effect of citrate and phosphate buffers on the measures of fructolysis, the Pasteur effect and the fructose utilization by the head, midpiece and tail fraction of spermatozoa have also been investigated. Fructolytic index of the buffalo spermatozoa has been compared with those of exotic bulls. Fl was highly significantly different between first, second and third hour of incubation. Significant correlations were obtained between sperm concentration and fructose utilization in all the 20 minute periods. Ku was independent of initial fructose concentration (IFC) sperm concentration and the incubation period. The Fructose utilization followed a first order reaction. The correlation coefficient between the seminal attributes and different measures of fructolysis have been presented. All the measures of fructolysis were significantly higher in citrate buffer as compared to phosphate buffer. None of the fractions of the spermatozoa showed fructolytic activity on incubation with exogeneous fructose.