THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF FREE MYO-INOSITOL IN RETE TESTIS FLUID FROM RAMS

A high concentration of free inositol has been found in the semen of a number of species and most of this seems to arise from the accessory glands, not the epididymis (Mann, 1954, 1964; Hartree, 1957). However, appreciable concen-trations of myo-inositol occur in the testis (Dawson & Freinkel, 1961), and recent evidence suggests that it is most likely formed there from glucose via glucose-6-phosphate and d-myo-inositol-l-phosphate (Eisenberg, 1967). This high concentration in the testis prompted us to examine the levels of free inositol in rete testis fluid. Table 1 concentration of free inositol in rete testis fluid and jugular venous blood plasma of conscious rams Date of sampling(1966) Blood plasmainositol(mg/100 ml) Rete testis flui