Isozymes of Human Sperm Esterase Variations in a Sample of Men Attending an Infertility Clinic

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Abstract
Esterase variations in sperm and seminal plasma were studied in a sample of men attending an infertility clinic. About half of the men had esterase activity in the sperm cells. The sperm esterases are clearly different from those of the seminal plasma. Six different sperm esterase components (called A-F) were found with a maximum of 3 components in the same individual sperm sample. All components hydrolyzed [alpha]-naphthyl acetate; D and some E and F components did also hydrolyze [beta]-naphthyl acetate. Components corresponding electrophoretically to the sperm esterase components C, D and F were found in homogenates of testicular tissue. The molecular heterogeneity of sperm esterase may be due to both environmental physiological variations and gentic polymorphism.

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