An undescribed constituent of semen.

Abstract

In the study of spermatozoa with the darkfield microscope in April, 1920, my attention was attracted by the presence of very many minute particles which exhibited the Brownian movement. A number of specimens were examined, always with the same result, except that in perfectly fresh specimens of semen the Brownian movement was not distinctly apparent. In these specimens the particles seemed to be imbedded in a gelatinous matrix, so that the particles moved only when the matrix was moved by the penetrating or lashing movements of the spermatozoa. After some hours the gelatinous condition disappeared and liquefaction supervened. In this latter phase the Brownian movement of the particles became very active. If the cover glass be surrounded with a ring of oil to prevent drying, the particles and their movement may be observed for several days.

Up to date, the particles have been found to be constantly present in the seminal secretion of man, stallion, bull, boar and the testicular fluid of the rooster.

Counts were made of the number of particles by the use of the ocular micrometer method as devised by S. H. Gage. In man the average ranged from 154 to 190; in the stallion, the number averaged in one instance 156 to 165, in another instance 21 to 35. Samples from five different bulls gave quite variable results. In bull No. 1 the particles averaged from 35 to 53; in bull No. 2, 51 to 127; in bull No. 3, the average was 60; in bull No. 4, 19; and in bull No. 5, the range was from 7 to 20. Some of the specimens showing the lower number of particles were obtained from young bulls which had not been in service long.