Abstract
Summary
The addition of glycine, at concentrations of 0.009 to 0.038 molar, to a balanced salt diluent, increases considerably the motile life-span of bovine sperm at 38.6°C. The effect is manifest in 1/1000, but not in 1/100, dilutions of semen. It is not exhibited at 4°C. In yolk-citrate the usual extension of life-span is obtained at 4°C, but at 38.6°C there is either no significant effect or a decrease as compared with the balanced salt solution controls. The results are discussed in relation to experiments on sperm of invertebrates and fowl in which the life-span extending action of amino acids is attributable to the binding of trace metals present in the dilution medium.
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