Influence of testosterone propionate during storage on livability and metabolism of bovine spermatozoa

Bovine spermatozoa, stored in the presence of 25, 50, 100 or 150 μg testosterone propionate/ml of extender for either 4 hours at 5° C or 2 weeks at ?196° C, elicited a decreased O₂ uptake. The O₂ uptake decreased with each increase in the level of testosterone added to the media. Part of this decrease in O₂ uptake particularly at higher concentrations of the testosterone was due to a decrease in the number of live spermatozoa. There was also an increase in the release of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase enzyme from the spermatozoa in the testosterone containing diluents. The depressed respiration and the higher accumulation of Kreb's cycle intermediates are suggestive that testosterone at 25 μg/ml extender may be beneficial for storage of spermatozoa at ?196° C.