Casillas E R, Villalobos P, Gonzales R
J Reprod Fertil. 1984 Sep;72(1):197-201. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0720197.
The highest levels of carnitine and acylcarnitine were found in the cauda epididymidis, and spermatozoa from the cauda contained greater amounts of total carnitine (free carnitine plus acylcarnitine) than those removed from the corpus or caput epididymidis. Spermatozoa from the distal cauda contained significantly greater amounts of both free and total carnitine than those removed from the proximal cauda epididymidis. The acylcarnitine:carnitine ratio was 1.7 and 0.37 in caput and cauda spermatozoa, respectively and 1.7 and 1.3 in caput and cauda fluid, respectively. It is suggested that the accumulation of carnitine is involved in sperm maturation and that acylcarnitine serves as an energy substrate for epididymal spermatozoa.
附睾尾部的肉碱和酰基肉碱水平最高，附睾尾部的精子所含的总肉碱（游离肉碱加酰基肉碱）量比附睾体部或头部的精子更多。附睾远侧尾部的精子所含的游离肉碱和总肉碱量均显著高于附睾近侧尾部的精子。附睾头部和尾部精子的酰基肉碱与肉碱比值分别为1.7和0.37，附睾头部和尾部液体中的该比值分别为1.7和1.3。有人提出，肉碱的积累参与精子成熟过程，而酰基肉碱是附睾精子的能量底物。
