Glycolytic activity of human spermatozoa in normospermic men and in men with abnormal spermograms

The glycolytic activity of human spermatozoa was studied in samples from supposed fertile and infertile subjects. The quantity of L-lactate produced during the first hour of incubation in an enriched medium was measured. There was no difference between the oligozoospermic subjects and the volunteer donors constituting the control group. Lactate production was considerably decreased in men consulting for sterility but with a normal sperm examination, as well as in asthenozoospermic men. In oligoasthenozoospermic men abnormally high quantities of lactate were present in samples from certain individuals or it was unexpected, reflecting extensive metabolic disturbances. Positive correlations were noted between motility and glycolysis only in the controls. A negative correlation was noted between the concentration of spermatozoa and their metabolic activity, especially evident in oligoasthenozoospermic men.