Effect of Surface Area–to-Volume Ratios in Storage Tubes on Oxygenation of Diluted Bull Semen

Abstract

Special flasks were designed from three different sizes of ordinary storage tubes to study the metabolism of spermatozoa with the conventional Warburg apparatus. Oxygen uptake of bull spermatozoa diluted with 0.9% saline to a concentration of 200 × 106 cells per ml. varies directly, but not exactly proportionally, with the ratio of the exposed surface area-to-volume of the fluid in the flask. Compared to 0.9% saline, the oxygen uptake was lower in phosphate diluent. Even at an S/V ratio as low as 0.17, the oxygen uptake is appreciable. In the present studies, a maximum oxygen uptake was reached with an S/V ratio of 1 to 1.9. © 1957, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.