UPTAKE OF α-AMINOISOBUTYRIC ACID (AlB) BY ROOSTER SPERMATOZOA

This experiment was designed to determine whether ${\alpha}$-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) can be used to predict membrane function of spermatozoa by measuring the uptake of AIB by fresh, stored and frozen-thawed rooster spermatozoa. When spermatozoa were stored at low temperature ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) for 24 h. no difference was found in AIB uptake compared with fresh spermatozoa, whereas storage for 48 h resulted in a slight increase in AIB uptake by spermatozoa. On the one hand, the uptake of AIB by frozen-thawed spermatozoa was less than that by fresh spermatozoa. This suggests possibility of a different membrane transport system between spermatozoa preserved at low temperature ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) and those frozen-thawed. Glycerol used as cryoprotectant may modify rooster sperm membrane in a different manner from cold preservation. Ouabaine ($10^{-4}M$) caused a slight decrease in AIB uptake, but caffeine ($10^{-2}M$) did not influence spermatozoal AIB uptake. These results indicate a successful application of AIB to rooster spermatozoa as a mean for measuring sperm membrane function and suggest a possible alteration of membrane transport system in rooster spermatozoa between cold ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) and cryopreservation ($-196^{\circ}C$).