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Serum testosterone, seminal fructose, citric acid, and prolactin were measured in 33 men attending an infertility clinic. Seminal samples were assessed for leucocytes using the peroxidase stain technique and were grouped as leucocytospermics or not. Corrected fructose was calculated from actual fructose concentration. The objective of the study was to use the combined measurement of serum levels of testosterone and levels of corrected seminal fructose as a test to determine the presence or absence of an obstructive process by inflammation at the reproductive tract. Seminal fructose and corrected fructose were lower in subjects with leucocytospermia, whereas serum testosterone, seminal prolactin, and citric acid were not different between groups with and without leucocytospermia. In 61.5% of the samples with leucocytospermia were observed both low corrected seminal fructose and normal serum testosterone levels, indicating an obstructive process. Seminal prolactin levels in leucocytospermic subjects were more associated with citric acid concentration than with corrected fructose, suggesting that prolactin is also secreted by the prostate. In summary, the data demonstrated that when leucocytospermia, normal serum testosterone concentration, and low corrected seminal fructose level are present, an obstructive process of the seminal vesicles may be suspected.

Secretions were collected from the ampullary gland, dorsolateral prostate, ventral prostate, coagulating glands and seminal vesicles of male golden hamsters aged 15-20 weeks. The concentrations of total protein, citric acid, fructose, acid phosphatase, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc were determined. The ampullary gland secreted predominantly citric acid, sodium and acid phosphatase. Zinc was secreted only by the prostatic complex, with the largest quantity coming from the coagulating gland. The highest concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium were found in secretions of the ventral prostate. The coagulating gland and dorsolateral prostate were the principal contributors to total protein. The hamster appears to be more related to the mouse than to the rat in terms of the secretory functions of its accessory sex glands.

In 31 adult rats of Wistar strain (body weight 231 +/- 14g) the relationships between testosterone concentration in testicular venous blood of an individual rat and weight of accessory sex organs (testes, seminal vesicles, ventral prostate, levator ani muscle) and citric acid and fructose concentrations in seminal vesicles were investigated. No direct relationship was found between testosterone concentration and the above parameters. The correlation coefficient varied from 0.042 to 0.394.

Seminal fructose, citric acid and phosphatase levels were estimated in 60 normal adults and compared with 60 oligospermic and 24 azoospermic Indian subjects. In normal group, the seminal plasma fructose level and acid phosphatase activity showed a fall as the sperm count increased. As compared to normals, significantly higher mean values for fructose and acid phosphatase activity were observed in oligospermic and azoospermic groups. Seminal alkaline phosphatase activity did not show any relationship with sperm count. Similarity in changes observed in seminal fructose and acid phosphatase levels with respect to seminal citric acid content and sperm concentration suggests that both these parameters are probably regulated by similar physiological mechanism.

The contents of fructose and citric acid in the semen of seven bulls of different ages were examined over a one-year period. The bulls were used as sires in the Artificial Insemination Station. The semen production was within the normal range. In the course of the investigations the temperature and moisture regimes of the air in the barns was optimal for the semen production of the bulls. No statistically significant changes in the amount of fructose and citric acid were established at different average diurnal temperatures and the relative moisture content in the different annual seasons. A marked positive correlation (r = 0.070 +/- 0.04) was observed between the changes in the contents of fructose and citric acid throughout the year. These changes were in an inverse correlation with the number of spermatozoa per mL of semen (r = 0.26 +/- 0.08) and in a moderate one for the citric acid (r = 0.49 +/- 0.06). In the bulls of the Red Dannish cattle there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of spermatozoa and a statistically significant increase in the number of immobile spermatozoa in the winter season.

Mannose and fructose as well as glucose have been shown to be effective for maintaining ATP and thus viability of stored red blood cells. Normal 2,3-DPG levels are desirable in stored red blood cells to provide the needed oxygen transport upon transfusion. ATP levels in sotred concentrated red blood cells in the new preservative, CPD-adenine (citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine) become critically low in the 5th week. In this study two hexoses and two pentoses are compared with dextrose in their ability to maintain ATP and 2,3-DPG. ATP levels were best maintained by fructose, then dextrose and mannose. ATP levels had fallen to critically low levels by four weeks with ribose and xylose. Red blood cell 2,3-DPG concentrations were also maintained by hexoses, with mannose being best, dextrose and fructose being similar. When ribose was used in addition to dextrose in CPD-adenine, ATP maintenance was improved and under the same conditions xylose improved 2,3-DPG maintenance. Fructose and mannose may be as useful as dextrose in citrate-phosphate preservatives for maintaining ATP and 2,3-DPG levels. Also, ribose and xylose may help the maintenance of ATP and 2,3-DPG, respectively, in CPD-adenine.

The efficiency of ultrafiltration and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the routine analysis of dialysable sugar alcohols, organic acids and carbohydrates in boar and bull seminal plasma is evaluated. Permitting a simple and rapid separation of protein-free samples, ultrafiltration reduces the time of HPLC analysis by 40 minutes as compared to protein precipitation by means of methanol. Under optimal flow-conditions the separation of citric acid, inositol and fructose is achieved in 16 minutes. Moreover, the use of silicon-oil for separating seminal plasma within seconds is described.

A comparative study was made of spermatozoa motility and fructolysis with semen normal donors incubated in glass flasks and plastic collectors at room temperature (22 degrees to 25 degrees C). With the results obtained we came to the conclusion that poliethylene plastic collectors of low density, polimero 0.921, thickeness 20 to 30 mu, do not affect motility of fructose consumption of semen from normal donors. This material showed similar conditions to those in glass flasks.

Fructose and citric acid content was investigated in the sperm of 27 bulls with anamnesis data for "low quality sperm". The bulls were used as breeding males in various stations for artificial insemination. Three forms of Imp. generandi are described and several grades of Oligokinospermia are differentiated. Changes in fructose and citric acid quantity differed in degree in the various forms of Imp. generandi described. Fructose and citric acid value in I and II grade Oligokinospermia were insignificantly lower than the low limit of these indices observed in bulls with normal spermoproduction. Correlation between the changes observed is positive, slight, insignificant or entirely missing. Fructose content is insignificantly lower in cases of III and IV grade Oligokinospermia and in Akinospermia, while citric acid content is reduced only in Akinospermia. The correlation between the changes is positive , high and significant. Fructose reduction in bull's semen below 400.0 mg% and of citric acid below 500.0 mg% in case of negative data for inflammatory changes in vesiculae seminalis is a diagnostic symptom for disfunction of vesiculae seminalis. More considerable changes occur in fructose values.