Carbonic anhydrase activity of the reproductive tract tissues of aged male fowls and its relationship to semen production.

A significant positive correlation was found between the carbonic anhydrase activity of the testes or ductus deferens and the volume of semen, spermatozoa or seminal plasma per collection. No relationship was found between the carbonic anhydrase activity of tissue from the epididymal region and semen production. The intramuscular injection of greater than 25 mg acetazolamide/kg body weight, a known carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, significantly reduced the carbonic anhydrase activity in the testes, epididymides and ductus deferens. As the dose was increased, the carbonic anhydrase activity of the reproductive tract tissues decreased in a linear manner. The reduction in carbonic anhydrase activity was associated with significantly lower volumes of semen, spermatozoa and seminal plasma per collection.