DETERMINATION OF BOAR SPERMATOZOA WATER VOLUME AND OSMOTIC RESPONSE

Boar spermatozoa water volume and osmotic response were determined by a shape-independent method for measuring cellular volume, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), employing the spin label, tempone, and the broadening agent, potassium chromium oxalate (CrOx). A water volume of 18.4 +/- 1.6 mu m(3) (($) over bar X +/- SD) was obtained for individual boar spermatozoa at 290 milliosmolal (mOsm) which, after correction for the presence of cytoplasmic droplets, yields a boar sperm water volume of 13.0 to 15.0 mu m(3). Assuming 59% of the total cell volume is water, the total cell volume of boar spermatozoa is 22.0 to 25.4 mu m(3). In addition, the experiment indicated that the relative water volume versus the reciprocal of the external osmolality (Boyle van't Hoff plot) was linear over the range of 210 to 1500 mOsm of sodium chloride (r(2) = 0.996), supporting the hypothesis that boar spermatozoa act as ideal osmometers. A non-zero y axis intercept of 0.23 from the Boyle van't Hoff plot indicated a 23% spin label accessible, but osmotically inactive water component.