SHORT-TERM INHIBITION OF THE ENERGY-METABOLISM AFFECTS MOTILITY BUT NOT SURFACE-PROPERTIES OF SPERM CELLS

Centrifugal countercurrent distribution (CCCD) in aqueous two-phase sy stems has been proven to be a useful method to study subtle surface pr operties of spermatozoa. The present work shows that a short-term inhi bition of the energy metabolism of sperm cells effected by incubating bovine sperm cells with KCN or ouabain, did not account for changes in the cell surface properties, as assessed either by estimation of the cell viability or by CCCD analysis. However, the short-term inhibition of energy metabolism provoked a clear decrease of cell motility, sugg esting that a drop of cellular ATP levels brings about a rapid decreas e of motility followed by a very delayed effect on cell surface proper ties. The relevance of these results on the handling of sperm and on t he understanding of the molecular events underlying asthenospermia is discussed.