[Effect of selenium and DL-methionine on the zinc and tocopherol content of the seminal fluid in rams].

The zinc content in spermatozoa and the tocopherol content in the total semen of rams were determined following the incubation of semen in the course of one hour at 37 degrees C, adding no selenium and methionine. Zinc was evaluated by means of AAS1, and tocopherol was measured spectrophotometrically. It was found that both selenium ions and methionine produced a varying effect on the zinc transport and the tocopherol content.

[Dependence between the magnesium and calcium content of the spermatozoa of rams and their motility].

An atomic absorption spectrophotometer AAS1 was used to determine the concentration of magnesium and calcium in seminal cells, plasma, and whole semen of ram ejaculates with a varying percent of motile spermatozoa. Direct proportional correlation was found to exist between the magnesium content in spermatozoa and the percent of spermatozoal motility, and reverse proportional correlation existed between the calcium content and the motility of seminal cells. The plasma of ejaculates with higher cell motility contained more fats as compared with that of ejaculates with lower percent of motile spermatozoa.

[Tocopherol absorption and accumulation in the body of rams].

A paper-chromatographic method was employed to evaluate the tokoferrol content in the feed and in blood and semen of rams. It was established that the animals utilised from feeds higher percent of alfa- tokoferrol and negligible amounts of beta- and gamma- tokoferrols . The absorption of beta- tokoferrol was not demonstrated, although in the feed this tokoferrol was more than 15 per cent of the total tokoferrol content.

[Zinc and manganese transport in ram sex cells].

The atomic absorption spectrophotometer AAS1 was used to determine the concentration of Zn and Mn in the spermatozoa and ejaculate plasma of rams, having different percent of motile spermatozoa. A reverse correlation was found between the Zn and Mn content of spermatozoa and the percent of their motility. Seminal fluid with a higher percent of motile cells had plasma with a higher Zn and Mn content as compared with ejaculates having plasma with a lower percent of motile spermatozoa.