Spermine, Choline, Ergothioneine 111 



to occur normally in spermatozoa (Infantellina, 1945; Tesoriere 

 and Infantellina, 1946). Our researches (Mann and Leone, 1953) 

 demonstrated that ergothioneine, which is a natural constituent of 

 the seminal plasma, can counteract most efficiently the sperm- 

 paralysing action of various thiol-reagents, including not only the 

 mercaptide-forming and alkylating reagents but also substances such 

 as o-iodosobenzoate which act by oxidizing compounds with SH- 

 groups to the corresponding S-S derivatives. In fact, we were able 

 to demonstrate the mutually antagonistic action of ergothioneine 

 and o-iodosobenzoic acid in experiments with boar sperm taken 

 T 



60 90 



Incubation (min.) 

 Fig. 16. Effect of ergothioneine on boar spermatozoa; anaerobic fructolysis 

 at 37° in boar epididymal spermatozoa to which fructose was added, 



2-5 mg. fructose/10^ sperm; O O, no additions; x x, 



iodosobenzoate (IO^^m); • •, iodosobenzoate (10-^m) + 



ergothioneine (2 x 10" ^m). 



(Mann & Leone, 1953) 



