The role of citrate in determining the activity of calcium ions in human semen

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Abstract
The concentrations of Ca and citrate in 52 samples of human semen obtained from 10 donors were 11.07 .+-. 0.41 (mean .+-. standard error of the mean [SEM] and 27.2 .+-. 1.62 mM, respectively, and were strongly correlated (r = +0.79). The pH of the semen was 7.65 .+-. 0.069. All 3 parameters varied significantly between the donors (P < 0.001 in each case), but the activity of Ca ions measured with a Ca electrode was 0.24 .+-. 0.022 mM (n = 45) and did not vary significantly between donors. The expected activity of Ca ions was calculated on the hypothesis that the chelation of Ca by citrate could explain the discrepancy between the concentration and the activity of the ion. The result was 0.57 .+-. 0.043 mM (n = 52). Chelation by citrate could be the most important factor in determining the low activity of Ca2+ in semen.

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