Spermatozoa metabolism

An example of the use of a highly specialised cell type to study targeted toxic effects on the cellular metabolism is the recently developed boar spermatozoon motility inhibition test (Andersson et al., 1998). The motility of a spermatozoon depends on the integrity of mitochondrial functions, and thus the action of toxins affecting the energy metabolism is very rapidly detected as reduction of motility. Other end points that can be measured are plasma membrane integrity, astrodome function, and total cellular ATP and NAD reduction. This test has been particularly useful in the detection of certain types of bacterial toxins from various enviromnental and food sources. 

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