Studies on leakage of enzymes from washed bull and ram spermatozoa

Washing of bull and ram spermatozoa resulted in significant losses of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) from the cell suspensions. Re-suspension of washed bull spermatozoa caused an immediate release of enzymes from the cells. Preincubation of washed ram spermatozoa with 0.025% formaldehyde increased GPI levels but decreased LDH concentration in the extracellular fluid while hexokinase release was unaffected. Varying the incubation temperature between 20 and 37 degrees C affected extracellular LDH and GPI levels. It is suggested that enzyme release from spermatozoa may occur in the absence of any apparent cellular damage.