Antioxidant activity of bull semen in relation with aging

This paper reports on the findings of an antioxidant activity in whole semen from bull and its components, washed spermatozoa and seminal fluid. The antioxidant activity has been evaluated as the ability of semen or its components to inhibit the spontaneous autooxidation of epinephrine a pH 10, 2, which involves the production of superoxide radicals (0(2)). This preliminary study provides further evidence on the role of free radicals, which are well known to be dangerous to cellular life, and points to the need of a better understanding of the role of antioxidant activities as a cellular protective mechanism.