Stability of spermatozoan decapacitation factor

Abstract

The process of sperm eapacitation is reversed by incubation of capacitated sperm with seminal plasma or a partially purified substance from seminal plasma (DF or decapacitation factor). These studies demonstrate that partially purified DF is unusually stable for a biologically active substance in that it can be dissolved in water and dried at temperatures up to 100 C for 9 hr. without destruction of biological activity. The lysozyme content of uterine fluids increases about 2.6-fold at the time of capacitation; however, this enzyme does not destroy the DF activity of seminal plasma or partially purified DF. It is concluded that DF is stable to dehydration and long-term storage and that lysozyme does not play a major role in sperm capacitation.