Seasonal variation of the semen and of the metabolism of dog spermatozoa have been studied using ten adult male Spitzdogs.
The results obtained are summarized as follows:
1. The average values of ejaculates in the spring, summer, autumn and winter season were as follows, respectively: total volume, 9.4, 7.0, 8.0 and 8.56 ml; sperm concentration, 267, 207, 188 and 237, ×10
6 per ml; total sperm count, 437.2, 369.9, 336.4 and 390.3, × 10
6 per ejaculate; motility index, 91, 88, 88 and 90; and percentages of morphologically abnormal sperm, 5.4, 7.0, 6.0 and 6.0. It was suggested that the semen quality was the best in the spring and the worst in the summer.
2. Oxgen uptake of unwashed dog spermatozoa was the highest in the spring without distinction of substrates, but glycolysis was higher in ther spring than the autumn and fluctolysis was higher in the autumn, conversely. Viability and metabolic activity of dog spermatozoa in the summer were the lowest throughout the year. These observations show that the summer sterility may appear in dog.
3. The metabolic activity of dog spermatozoa washed by calcium free Krebs Ringer Phosphate was unchanged or incresed slightly compared with that unwashed. Especially, the increasing rate were higher in fuctolysis than in glycolysis.
4. Larger quantity of glucose was utilized than fructose by washed and unwashed dog spermatozoa.The values of the oxygen uptake, sugar consumption and lactate accumulation obtained with the dog spermatozoa were similar to those obtained with bull, ram, goat, boar and rabbit spermatozoa.
5. The semen quality and the metabolic activity of dog spermatozoa were improved from the autumn to the spring. The semen characters were the best in the spring and the worst in the summer. Therefore, it may be pointout that the semen quality of the dog was more affected by the summer heat than on another farm animals for the lack of sweat glands. It is thought that seasonal effects are important factor for the studies on dog semen.
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