Ejaculatory sequence in men with low sperm chromatin-zinc.
The composition of seminal plasma in the sperm-rich split ejaculate fraction was studied in a group of men with a low zinc content in their sperm chromatin, to evaluate the availability of zinc at ejaculation. Men with low-chromatin zinc had, in the sperm-rich split-ejaculate fraction, high amounts of seminal-vesicular fluid, a low zinc:fructose molar ratio, and a high percentage of zinc bound to high molecular weight ligands of seminal vesicular origin (HMW-Zn). This indicates premature admixture of vesicular fluid at ejaculation. It is suggested that the zinc:fructose molar ratio and HMW-Zn in the sperm-rich fractions could be used as a measure of the availability of zinc in seminal plasma.
Björndahl
L
L
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kjellberg
S
S
Kvist
U
U
D000328:Adult; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004542:Ejaculation; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D002843:Chromatin; D005632:Fructose; D015032:Zinc