The Distribution of Spermatozoa and of Certain Chemical Constituents in the Human Ejaculate

Abstract

The distribution of spermatozoa, glucose, non-fermentable reducing substances, and lactic acid in the human ejaculate, was detd. The specimens were examined within an hr. after ejaculation for quality of motility and the number of motile cells. Glucose was detd. by the method of Benedict and lactic acid by the technique of Barker and Summerson. Glucose was differentiated from non-fermentable reducing substances by yeast fermentation. In 30 expts. approx. 75% of the spermatozoa were contained in the first 40% of the ejaculate. Many more actively motile were encountered in the 1st portion. The greater part of the glucose and non-fermentable reducing substances were found in the 2d portion of the ejaculate, whereas the converse was true of the lactic acid. The mean concs, in the 1st portion were, respectively, 157mg.% of glucose, 47mg.% of non-fermentable reducing substances, and 71mg.% of lactic acid; the respective values for the 2d portion were, respectively, 377mg.%, 67mg.%, and 48mg.%. Azoospermic ejaculates, too, contained a higher conc. of glucose in the last portion. In contrast to normal specimens, however, the lactic acid conc. of the 1st and 2d portions of ejaculates from azoospermic individuals were divided nearly equally. The high lactic acid content of the first part of the ejaculate of normal persons may be due to the presence of spermatozoa.