Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

INTRODUCTION

Fructolytic index - Amount of fructose utilized by 10⁹ spermatozoa in one hour at 37⁰C.

• Fructose, a glycolysable sugar, present in the semen, which is produced by the accessory sex glands, is utilized as a source of energy by active spermatozoa.

Fructose- the major energy source of spermatozoa is secreted from seminal vesicles.

• It’s level in semen is regulated by the male sex hormone testosterone.
• Fructolytic index is defined as the amount of fructose utilized by 10⁹ spermatozoa in one hour at 37⁰C.
• Greater the metabolic activity of spermatozoa more will be the amount of fructose metabolized in any semen sample.
• The quality of the semen can be assessed by measuring the rate of utilization of fructose.
• Fructolysis in the semen is assessed by measuring the disappearance of sugars and accumulation of lactic acid by a constant number of spermatozoa in a specific time and under specified conditions.
• Gassner and Hill (1952), Bonadonna and Pozzi (1954), Probine et al. (1958) reported a relationship between fructolysis and fertility.
• A highly significant relationship was found between fructolysis and concentration of live sperm.
• In buffalo semen fructose level is low as compared to cattle semen. Fructolysis was lowest during summer and superior during spring season.
• Mann (1948) for the first time proposed fructolysis as an index for evaluating the activity of semen.
• It has been described as the milligram of fructose utilized by 10⁹ spermatozoa in one hour at 37⁰C.
• Greater is the metabolic activity of spermatozoa more will be the amount of fructose metabolized per unit of time in any semen sample.

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