Endonuclease Activity in Bull Semen, Testis and Accessory Sex Organs1

Abstract
The acid and alkaline endonuclease activities present in bull semen and accessory sex organs were measured by determining the amount of radioactive material solubilized from [3H]DNA gel. The alkaline endonuclease (pH 7.5) required Ca2+ plus Mg2+ for activity, while the acid endonuclease (pH 5.5-6.0) required Ca2+ or Mg2+ for activity. High Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent alkaline endonuclease activity was found in seminal plasma, prostate and seminal vesicle while sperms possessed low activity, suggesting that the seminal plasma enzyme was a secretory product of the accessory sex organs. The highest Mg2+-dependent acid endonuclease activity was found in the cytosol fraction of testis.