Catalase Content of Rabbit, Ram, Bull and Boar Semen

Catalase content of 100 ejaculates of Dutch-Belted rabbit semen averaged 275 mcg./ml. Catalase was not correlated with sperm concentration, and it was high in the supernatant of centrifuged semen and in the seminal plasma produced by vasectomized bucks. Catalase added to rabbit semen did not prolong sperm survival. A high degree of similarity between littermates suggested that catalase concentration in semen may be partly affected by heredity. Catalase content of semen collected from Dorset, Corriedale and Hampshire rams was much lower than rabbit semen, averaging 12 mcg./ml. in 62 samples. The correlation between catalase and sperm concentration of ram semen was 0.71, and 66% of the catalase was in the sperm fraction of centrifuged semen. Catalase levels in bull semen averaged only 3 mcg./ml. for 46 samples collected from Holstein, Guernsey, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Angus bulls. Added beef liver catalase was not appreciably taken up by bull sperm, but did prolong survival of bull sperm stored at 5° C. Catalase in boar semen was too low to estimate reliably, but eight samples averaged 0.2 mcg./ml.