Effect of the Addition of Carbohydrates after Storage on the Motility and Fertilizing Ability of Chicken Sperm

IN A recent investigation (Wilcox and Shaffner, 1958) a method has been developed which makes possible the storage of chicken sperm for extended periods of time without substantial loss of its fertilizing ability. One feature of this method was the addition of fructose at the rate of 2 mg./ml. just before insemination. Since the carbohydrate and level used were somewhat arbitrarily chosen, an investigation has been conducted to test the effectiveness of different levels of fructose as well as to determine if other carbohydrates would provide substantially greater fertility when added at the end of the storage period. Extensive investigation of carbohydrate metabolism has been undertaken with mammalian sperm and is reviewed at length by Mann (1954). The semen of many mammals is known to contain substantial quantities of fructose, and it has been established that this is broken down to lactic acid yielding ATP. Evidence has been presented that …