| Abstract: | Several taurine-related compounds, taurine antagonists and taurine uptake inhibitors were tested for their effect on hamster sperm motility in vitro. Hypotaurine was approximately three times more effective than taurine. N-methyltaurine and taurocyamine were less effective. Inactive taurine-related compounds were not effective blockers of taurine's spermtimulating activity. However, 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-dimethylaminomethyl-l-propenone, a taurine uptake inhibitor, completely suppressed sperm motility at a molar concentration equal to, or less than, that of the taurine added to the incubation medium and also suppressed the motility-sustaining action of the cumulus oophorus. |
