Date of Award

Winter 1983

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biological Sciences

Program/Concentration

Biomedical Sciences

Committee Director

James H. Yuan

Committee Member

Anibal Acosta

Committee Member

Steven Ackerman

Committee Member

Patricia Pleban

Committee Member

John F, Stacker

Abstract

Human Seminal Plasma was evaluated using a High Resolution Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis technique adapted by this laboratory. Seminal plasma from healthy volunteers with recently proven fertility were characterized using this technique to establish "normal" protein distribution patterns in the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel slab. In addition, time studies were performed on selected specimens to determine the effects of liquefaction on seminal plasma protein composition within the first several hours after collection. Split ejaculates were collected for identification and elaboration of accessory organ components in the whole seminal plasma specimen. A more direct approach to accessory organ component analysis involved electrophoresis of semen from patients with known fertility disorders (i.e. reproductive organ dysgenesis or dysfunction), patients who have undergone surgical procedures (varicocele repair, vasectomy, trans-urethral resection etc.), or specimens from patients who have produced secretions as a result of prostatic or seminal vesicle massage in the course of urological examinations. From these results, patterns of protein "spots" in the two-dimensional gel were associated with a particular accessory organ. Finally, seminal plasma from infertile individuals suffering from (idiopathic) polyzoospermia, hyperspermia, oligozoospermia, or azoospermia were evaluated.

DOI

10.25777/bcd9-x288

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