Ultraviolet Absorption Spectrum of Human Seminal Plasma. ∗

Abstract

Summary

At pH 7.85 the peak of ultraviolet absorption by human seminal plasma and of a mixture of globulins derived from it lies in the region of 276 to 279 mμ and the valley lies between 254 and 256 mμ. No significant differences were observed between the curves for plasmas from normal semen and the curves for plasmas from 3 semens which contained sperm considered to be defective in motility or morphology. Absorption by 2 acetic acid precipitable components (glycoprotein) shows little selectivity; there is only a slight inflection in the curve in the region of 285 mμ. The absorption increases sharply in the lower wave lengths. The effect of increasing the pH of the solution to 12 is to shift absorption, by both seminal plasma and by the globulins, toward somewhat longer wave lengths. At pH 12 there is a shift toward the longer wave lengths of the slight inflection at 285 mμ, in the curve for glycoprotein.