This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koren, E. Articles by Lukac, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koren, E. Articles by Lukac, J.

Mechanism of liquefaction of the human ejaculate I. Changes of the ejaculate proteins

E. Koren and J. Luka

Summary. The spontaneous liquefaction of the human ejaculate in vitro was studied by macroscopic inspection, disc electrophoresis of the ejaculate proteins, free amino acid and nitrogen determinations and by electron microscopy. Liquefaction occurred in three phases. Phase 1 was characterized by the macroscopic solubilization of the gelatinous material and by disappearance of its granular ultra-structure. Zn⁺⁺, Hg⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺ completely inhibited the first step of the liquefaction, which could be reversed by Na₂EDTA. The factor(s) involved is most probably a proteolytic enzyme(s) which is tightly incorporated into the gelatinous material. In Phase 2 of liquefaction solubilized proteins were degraded to peptides and in Phase 3 these peptides were degraded to amino acids. Factor(s) responsible for these two steps of liquefaction could be removed by washing the gelatinous material.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Emami, D. Deperthes, J. Malm, and E. P. Diamandis Major Role of Human KLK14 in Seminal Clot Liquefaction J. Biol. Chem., July 11, 2008; 283(28): 19561 - 19569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Pineau, S McCool, M. Glucksman, B Jegou, and A. Pierotti Distribution of thimet oligopeptidase (E.C. 3.4.24.15) in human and rat testes J. Cell Sci., January 10, 1999; 112(20): 3455 - 3462. [Abstract] [PDF]