What are the components of semen? Authoritative experts tell you the answer

People are very curious about the composition of men's semen and want to know what else is in it. In fact, the substances contained in men's semen are familiar to everyone, such as protein, fat, sugar, etc.

1. Composition of Semen

What are the ingredients of semen? The main component of semen is water, which contains a small amount of protein, fat and sugar. The prostatic fluid in the seminal plasma contains lecithin bodies, inorganic salts, enzymes, lactic acid and fructose. Semen contains inorganic salts, among which calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc are more abundant. The enzymes are mainly alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and hyaluronidase, all of which are related to the motility of sperm.

Sperm is produced by the testicles, matures in the epididymis, passes through the vas deferens and ejaculatory ducts, and is discharged from the urethra. During the process of ejaculation, secretions from accessory glands (including the prostate, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and paraurethral glands) also join in to form semen.

2. Semen is composed of sperm and secretions of accessory sex glands, namely seminal plasma, which is the basis of male fertility. Sperm accounts for 5% to 10% and seminal plasma accounts for 90% to 95%.

The main component of semen is water, which contains a small amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates; the prostatic fluid in the seminal plasma contains lecithin bodies, inorganic salts, enzymes, lactic acid and fructose, etc.; semen contains inorganic salts, among which the higher content are calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, etc.; the enzymes are mainly alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and hyaluronidase, etc., all of which are related to the motility of sperm.

3. Chemical composition of semen

1. Nucleic Acid (DNA)

DNA is mainly found in the nucleus of the sperm head. The DNA in the sperm head is the carrier of the genetic information of male animals.

2. Protein

Proteins in semen include nuclear proteins, acrosome complex proteins, tail contractile proteins and proteins in seminal serum.

3. Enzymes

There are many enzymes in semen, which are closely related to sperm activity, metabolism and fertilization. They can be roughly divided into three categories.

(1) Hydrolases: This type of enzymes includes deoxyribonuclease, hyaluronidase, phosphatase, glycosidase, amylase, etc.

(2) Oxidoreductases: lactate dehydrogenase, catalase, cytochrome, etc.

(3) Transaminase: aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glycerol kinase, etc.

4. Amino Acids

There are more than 10 kinds of free amino acids in semen. The amino acids in semen affect the survival time of sperm. Sperm can use the amino acids in semen as a matrix to synthesize protein during aerobic metabolism.

5. Lipids

Phospholipids in sperm are mainly found in the mitochondrial sheath in the middle section.

6. Sugar

The main sugars in semen are fructose, glucose, sorbitol, inositol, sialic acid and polysaccharides.

7. Organic acid

Mammalian semen contains a variety of organic acids and related substances. The main ones are citric acid, ascorbic acid, and lactic acid. In addition, there are small amounts of formic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, etc. Semen also contains prostaglandins, which are unsaturated fatty acids that stimulate the contraction of uterine muscles in the female reproductive tract.

8. Inorganic ingredients

The inorganic ions in semen mainly include Na+, K+, Mg+, Ca2+, C1-, PO43-, etc., which play an important role in maintaining osmotic pressure.

9. Vitamins

Common vitamins in semen include riboflavin, ascorbic acid, pantothenic acid and niacin.