Molecular forms of selected antioxidant enzymes in dog semen – electrophoretical identification

The aim of the study was the electrophoretical identification of molecular forms of selected antioxidant enzymes in dog semen. Ejaculates to be studied were chosen from five dogs, aged from two to eight years. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out under non-denaturing conditions and then gels were stained for the activity of the following enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Sperm homogenates and all fractions (pre-spermatic, spermatic and post-spermatic) of dog ejaculate demonstrated one protein band with SOD activity characterized by low electrophoretic mobility. Based on the confirmed sensitivity to H₂O₂, it can be assumed that the detected SOD is an enzyme containing ions of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ (Cu,Zn SOD). In sperm homogenates one protein band with GPx activity was characterized by high electrophoretic mobility, whereas in the spermatic and post-spermatic fractions of dog ejaculate three protein bands with different (low, medium and high) electrophoretic mobility were identified. CAT molecular forms were not found in either sperm homogenates or in the analyzed fractions of ejaculate.