Protective effect of taurine from osmotic stress on chimpanzee spermatozoa

The effect of taurine on chimpanzee spermatozoa placed under hyperosmotic stress was studied. The lethal effect of osmotic stress on spermatozoa was partially alleviated by treating the cells with 2 mM taurine, whereas the viability of unstressed cells was not affected by this treatment. Ultrastructurally, exposure of spermatozoa to osmotic stress was accompanied by an increase in cells with disintegrated plasma and outer acrosomal membranes. Treatment of stressed spermatozoa with taurine partially prevented this increase with a concomitant enhancement of cell viability. These results suggest that taurine plays an osmoregulatory role in chimpanzee spermatozoa, which possibly involves stabilization of the cell membrane.