Abstract
EARLY observations on canine spermatozoa by Leeuwenhoek1, and Spallanzani2, although mainly confined to microscopic studies of sperm morphology and motility, included also experiments on various factors affecting sperm activity, and a successful attempt to perform artificial insemination in the bitch. A perusal of the existing literature, however, concerning the chemical composition of dog semen shows that the present knowledge is still very incomplete3,4. Moreover, the early analyses of dog semen were carried out mainly with whole ejaculates, although, as already shown by Ivanov5, dog semen is ejaculated in three fractions, the middle one containing the highest concentration of spermatozoa.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Leeuwenhoek, A. van, “The Collected Letters of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek”, Letters Nos. 38(24), 39(25), 1678, and NO. 84(45), 1685 (English translation, 2, 325, 349, 363, 365; 5, 143 (Sweets and Zeitlinger, Amsterdam, 1941)).
Spallanzani, L., “Dissertations Relative to the Natural History of Animals and Vegetables” (English translation, 2, 250 (Murray, London, 1789)).
Huggins, C., Harvey Lecture, 42, 148 (1947).
Mann, T., “The Biochemistry of Semen” (Methuen, London, 1954).
Ivanov, E., C.R. Soc. Biol., Paris, 80, 230 (1917).
Harrop, A. E., Brit. Vet. J., 110, 194 (1954).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BARTLETT, D. Biochemical Characteristics of Dog Semen. Nature 182, 1605–1606 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/1821605a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1821605a0
- Springer Nature Limited