ADENINE COMPOUNDS IN THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT AND THE SPERMATOPHORE OF THE SILKMOTH, BOMBYX-MORI

1. Studies were made on the levels of six adenine compounds in various glands of the male reproductive tract before and after ejaculation and their changes with time in the spermatophore of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. 2. The ductus (d.) deferens, ampulla d. deferentis and vesicular seminalis contain high concentrations of cAMP. The total amount of cAMP transferred from the male reproductive tract corresponds to its content in the spermatophore, and is sufficient to induce motility of apyrene spermatozoa. 3. The ATP content of the g. pellucida is much higher than those of the two other adenine nucleotides, indicating a high energy charge. But, in the other male glands, the AMP content is very much higher than that of ATP, indicating low energy charges.