Is there any protein in semen? This question is asked quite often. The sperm of a man is an organic fluid, which is a rather complex substance, which has more than 30 components in its composition. In the chemical composition of sperm, important elements for human health are found: vitamins B12, C and others, citric acid, calcium, zinc, copper, highly concentrated potassium, and sulfur.
This sticky, mucus-like, heterogeneous and opaque liquid smells of raw chestnut (it resembles a light smell of chlorine). The taste is completely dependent on nutrition, sweet-salty, with a touch of bitterness and acid.
If ejaculation becomes frequent, then the taste of semen also changes. She is more bitter. Immediately after the act, it is thick, but after half a minute it liquefies, its color is opaque, cloudy white. The amount depends on the individual characteristics of the man, maximum - up to ten milliliters. This is affected by age, health status, fluid drunk per day. Moreover, this does not affect the fertilizing ability. The number of sperm cells in 1 milliliter of seminal fluid matters.
The amount of sperm depends on how often ejaculation is performed. The more they are, the less it is and it is thinner.
Seminal vesicles contain a variety of discharge of the prostate gland, which stimulate the expansion of blood vessels, including muscle contraction. Sperm has alkaline properties, despite the fact that it contains citric acid. In this article, we find out how much protein is in semen.
Composition
Sperm contains two main parts:
- Seed plasma, which is formed by secretions of the testicles, ducts of the seminal gland, and including secretion of the prostate gland.
- Sperm cells are shaped elements.
Seminal fluid consists of a complex of specific chemical elements and substances, which are also found in other tissues of the body, but in much smaller quantities. The main components of seminal plasma are minerals, proteins, hormones, fats, enzymes, carbohydrates and other substances.
What determines sperm quality? It is due to the secretion of testosterone by the testes.
We are interested in how much protein is in semen. About it - further.
Squirrels
The seminal vesicles and prostate gland contain protein compounds that instantly turn into amino acids under the action of enzymes during ejaculation. After several studies, it was found that the average amount of protein per 100 ml is 5040 mg. That's how much protein is in sperm.
During ejaculation, a man on average secrete sperm in a volume of 10 ml, which is approximately 0.5 g, or 500 mg, of protein.
Seed plasma from amino acids secreted by proteins includes tyrosine, glutamic acid, glycine, serine, aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, histidine. Amino acids contain approximately 0.0125 g / ml.
How much protein is in sperm is now clear. What else is there?
In addition to proteins and amino acids, seminal plasma has free amines in large quantities: creatine, known as growth creatine, which helps to improve brain activity, regulate weight and function of the cardiovascular system, choline, spermine, spermidine (30-366 ฮผg / ml).
Creatine, which is mutually dependent on the concentration of creatine phosphokinase, is found in significant concentration in the seminal fluid. We found out the protein content in semen, but how many carbohydrates are there in it?
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates in the seminal fluid are bound to proteins or are in a free state. Fructose, which decisively affects sperm activity, makes up the majority of free carbohydrates. In seminal fluid, the amount of fructose in a volume of about 1-5 mg / ml is considered normal. In the case when the indicators are higher, this may indicate diabetes mellitus, and if they are lower, then the disease of the prostate gland. Sperm fructose is the main source of life for sperm. Other free carbohydrates, such as fucose, inositol, ribose, sorbitol, glucose, are also found in seminal plasma. With carbohydrates sorted out, go to fats. But for some reason, a frequent question: how many grams of protein in semen?
Fats
The following types of fats are contained in seminal fluid: fatty acids, cholesterol, phospholipids. On average, the concentration of cholesterol is 0.5 mg / ml, and the prostate gland produces it. Prostaglandins, they are also fatty acids, have the properties of lowering blood pressure, stimulating smooth muscles and exerting a protective effect on the skin and mucous membrane.
The concentration of fatty acids in the seed and the sensitivity of the female uterus to it, when it is in the period of ovulation, are very important for the human reproduction process. Some medications, such as Indomethacin and Aspirin, inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, and this reduces the ability of the seed to fertilize.
Prostaglandins are biologically active fats that play an important role in fertility. They stimulate smooth muscles, lower blood pressure, protect the skin and mucous membranes, including the stomach and intestines. Uterine motility is enhanced when seminal fluid enters into it, or rather, a small amount of it. But a large volume is very depressing and relaxing.
These fats are of great importance when creating offspring, since they are present in sperm in sufficient quantities and the uterus is sensitive to them at the time of ovulation.
If you take anti-inflammatory medications that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, then their level in the seminal fluid of a man will noticeably decrease. There is even an unconfirmed opinion that it is these fats that influence the fertilizing ability.
Enzymes
We are considering the composition of sperm. Protein is an important component. But now let's talk about enzymes.
In connection with the active participation of enzymes within twenty minutes after the eruption, liquefaction of the seed occurs. Often, male infertility causes a lack of protein-destroying enzymes, as the sperm has a viscous consistency, which complicates the progress of sperm.
In addition to protein-destroying enzymes, human seminal fluid contains hydrolytic in large quantities (maltase, acid phosphatase, glucosidase) and oxidizing (isolimonic dehydrogenase, lacticodehydrogenase) enzymes. Oxidizing agents play a vital role in the process of membrane metabolism.
Glucose phosphatisomerase - this enzyme is also present in the sperm of a man, converts glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate. This enzyme is important for the conversion of carbohydrates to pyruvic or lactic acid. It contains tissues that use the glycolytic pathway. High levels of glucose phosphatisomerase activity in the blood indicate the presence of pathology of the male genital organs, in addition, such overestimated rates are in liver diseases, as well as prostate cancer.
Hormones
The hormones contained in the seed do not affect their concentration in the blood. The content of testosterone in the seminal plasma is only a tenth of the blood serum of its indicator. After a simultaneous analysis of seminal fluid and testosterone in the blood, it was found that the concentration of the hormone in the plasma of the seed of infertile men is 0.35-1.8 ng / ml, in those who are fertile, it is 2.81-8.50 ng / ml Including sperm count and a positive ratio of testosterone levels were determined.
How much protein is there in sperm? This information is disclosed above.
Minerals
Seed plasma includes salts of magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium. Also in the seminal fluid, a large concentration of zinc, 0.15-0.3 mg / ml, it plays an important role in intellectual activity. Zinc in its main quantity comes from the prostate gland.
Other substances
An important substance in the composition of the seminal fluid is citric acid, which is produced by the prostate gland. The average indicator of its concentration in seminal plasma is 510 mg / 100 ml. Citric acid is necessary for the success of the process of dilution, coagulation of seminal fluid, in addition, it can bind to calcium ions.
We examined how much protein is in sperm. Also described in detail the composition of seminal fluid.