The present report deals with the effect of spermine (0.4-2.0 mg) on the intracellular levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in human spermatozoa. Spermine decreased the calcium and magnesium levels in a dose-related manner; however, changes in the sodium and potassium levels could not be correlated with spermine concentration.

Zusammenfassung Das Vorhandensein eines Faktors, der die progressive Motilität der Spermatozoen unterstützt, im menschlichen Nebenhoden In Extrakten von menschlichen Nebenhoden konnte ein Faktor ermittelt werden, der die progressive Motilität der Spermatozoen unterstützt. Mittels dieses Faktors ließ sich sowohl bei Männern mit Oligozoospermie als auch mit Asthenozoospermie eine signifikante Besserung der Motilität der Spermatozoen hervorrufen. Es kann gezeigt werden, daß der Effekt dieses Faktors (PMSF) durch das cyklische AMP vermittelt wird.

Adenosine trio-phosphate is the main energy source available for the spermatozoa propulsion. It is well established that any alteration of ATP pool either directly or indirectly affects sperm motility (Mitchell et al. -1976). Human spermatozoa contain a hydrolysing enzyme, adenosine trio-phosphatase (ATPase) which is stimulated by sodium and potassium ions in presence of magnesium ions (Durr et al. -1972). This

Human seminal plasma normally has a very high content of zinc (Homonnai et al. -1978). It has also been demonstrated that this cation originates from the prostate (Eliasson and Lindholmer -1971). There exists a negative correlation between the zinc content of human spermatozoa and the motility (Homonnai et al. -1978).Earlier, we have shown that prolactin and spermine are abundantly available in the human semen as well as in the secretions of the female genital tract (Sheth et al. -1975, 1975and Sheth et al. -1976. Subsequently, we have demonstrated that prolactin and