THE CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN THE EJACULATES OF NORMAL AND VASECTOMIZED MEN

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of sperm and seminal plasma of normal me n and seminal plasma of vasectomized individuals have been identified and quantified by two dimensional (2D) electrophoresis. The sperm cont ains predominantly CSC and HS as well as significant amounts of DS whi ch achieves a high level in the sperm of the youngest man, while HA an d LSC are either undetectable or present in small quantities. In norma l seminal plasma, characteristically, DS is essentially lacking wherea s CSC is the major GAG and HA and LSC account for relatively high perc entages. Interestingly, in the ejaculates of vasectomized men the DS c ontent is relatively prominent and the HA concentration varies widely. The oversulfated chondroitin sulfates CSD/CSE were detected in 7 of t he 37 specimens. Their presence in a normal human body fluid is report ed for the first time and the previous observation of the youthful DS/ CSC switch is expanded to this study.