Toxicity to Bull Spermatozoa of Various Salts, Brands and Lots of Penicillin, Streptomycin, Aureomycin and Chloromycetin

Summary A limited survey was made of the toxicity to bull spermatozoa of several antibiotics including four brands and two salts of penicillin, three brands and three salts of streptomycin, one lot of dihydrostreptomycin, two salts of aureomycin and one lot of chloromycetin. Differences in spermatozoa motility were not attributed to brands, lots or salts of either penicillin or streptomycin. Dihydrostreptomycin sulfate was not toxic to spermatozoa at levels as high as 8 mg. per milliliter of diluted semen. The initial toxic level of aureomycin was found to be above 0.0625 mg. per milliliter while that of chloromycetin was found to be above 0.5 mg. per milliliter of diluted semen.