SYNOVIAL-TYPE (GROUP-II) PHOSPHOLIPASE-A2 HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) was analysed in seminal plasma of fertile, sub fertile, and vasectomized men as well as in prostatic secretion and ti ssue. Immunological cross-reactivity was observed between synovial-typ e PLA2 antiserum and the enzyme present in seminal plasma. There was a highly significant correlation between the concentration of the synov ial-type PLA2, as measured by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and th e catalytic activity of the PLA2. The results show that the PLA2 conte nt in human seminal plasma is very high (approximately 1000 times of t hat present in blood plasma) and that the enzyme belongs to the synovi al-type group II phospholipase A2. The results also indicate that the enzyme is secreted by the prostate.