than for spermatozoa incubated in SMIS (motility rate for >15%,
average path velocity for >50 μm/s) (Table 4). Both motility pattern
and head displacement were not affected by the treatments (Table 5).
Higher concentrations of arachidonic acid (>0.05 mmol/l), arachidic
acid (>1 mmol/l) and linoleic acid (>1 mmol/l) were toxic to the
spermatozoa as they completely inhibited the motility; higher
concentrations of palmitic acid had no effect. The ATP levels of
untreated control spermatozoa, of spermatozoa incubated for 72 h in
SMIS, and of spermatozoa incubated for 72 h in SMIS containing
arachidonic acid (0.005 mmol/l), linoleic acid (0.25 mmol/l), or
palmitic acid (1.35 mmol/l) were not significantly different
(P>0.005) (Table 5). After 72 h, the fertility of spermatozoa incubated
together with 0.005 mmol/l arachidonic acid or 0.25 mmol/l linoleic
acid was significantly higher than the control spermatozoa (for >10%)
(P