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J Anat. 1996 Feb; 188(Pt 1): 137–147.
PMCID: PMC1167641
PMID: 8655400

RNA and protein synthesis in the nonspermatozoal cells of normal human semen.

M A Williams and D C Smith
Author information Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer

Abstract

A series of semen samples from recently fertile men was obtained by masturbation. They were washed and placed in short term culture in BWW medium, and labelled either with tritiated uridine or tritiated tyrosine. Control samples were labelled in the presence of actinomycin D and puromycin respectively, and examined by light and electron microscopy. Ejaculated spermatocytes, spermatids of various stages and certain anucleate bodies proved to be labelled with tritiated tyrosine and hence to be protein synthetic. Ejaculated spermatocytes were also active in RNA synthesis. Macrophages and neutrophil leucocytes both heavily incorporated tritiated uridine and tritiated tyrosine. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the possible role of exfoliated sperm precursors in ejaculates.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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