Sperm retention

Figure 1. Summary of the orgasm patterns that lead to high and low levels of sperm retention (constructed from data in Baker and Beilis 1993b).

Figure 2. Summary of changes in female strategy for EPCs with stage of reproductive ontogeny. The women in the UK nation-wide survey were on average three years older than those in the Manchester whole-ejaculate study and were beginning to reproduce. Women in the nation-wide survey were (a) more likely to be unfaithful to their partner when the risk of conception was high and (b) showed an orgasm pattem/sperm retention pattern that favoured the EPC male rather than the partner. Women in the whole-ejaculate study were (a) less likely to be unfaithful when the risk of conception was high and (b) made no distinction between EPC males and current partner with respect to sperm retention. Nation-wide data from Baker and Beilis (1995).

Metter, D. E., 1964, On breeding and sperm retention in Ascaphus, Copeia 1964 710-711. 

Neuropeptides Y (NFY) and YY are 36-residue amidated peptides that are members of the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) family (Fig. 30-5). NPY is produced both in the peripheral nervous system and in the brain,110 134 where it is one of the most abundant neuropeptides. Another member of the PP family is semi-nalplasmin, a regulator of calcium ion transport in bovine sperm.135 NPY is best known for its stimulation of appetite. It also inhibits anxiety and increases memory retention. It has a vasoconstrictive effect on blood vessels, participating in cardiovascular regulation.136 137 Peptide YY is formed in endocrine cells of the intestine, while NPY is formed in neurons of the parasympathetic system.138 Both participate in regulation of fluid and electrolyte secretion. Both are found in other vertebrate species.139... 

FIGURE 13 Plot of the logarithm of the retention volume (In VR) versus the concentration of the displacing salt, ammonium sulphate, in the HP-HIC mode with the proteins I, insulin B-chain 2, bovine trypsin inhibitor 3, bovine trypsinogen 4, insulin A-chain 5, ribonuclease 6, sperm whale myoglobin 7, horse heart cytochrome c. Data from Ref. 42. 

Undesirable Effects Women - virilism (hirsutism), menstrual irregularities. Men - prostatic hyperplasia or cancer, gynecomastia (high dose or with liver disease), pattern baldness, reduced sperm count (negative feedback). Both sexes -hypercalcemia, coagulopathies, sodium and water retention, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, cholestatic hepatitis, liver cancer. 

A. are found in semen, blood and urine. In urine, A. are present partly as conjugates with glucuronic acid, sulfuric acid or protein. The biological function of A. is to induce development of secondary male sex characteristics they are also required for sperm maturation and the activity of accessory glands of the genital tract. In addition to these sex-specific effects, A. stimulate anabolic processes, involving a net increase in body protein, and they increase nitrogen retention (see Anabolic steroids). 

In the sulfonation of unsaturated alcohols, powerful sulfonating reagents tend to attack the double or triple bond as well as the hydroxyl group consequently, milder reagents are preferred for selective O-sulfation. Studies of the sulfation of oleyl and elaidyl alcohols showed that the purest product (97% purity) was obtained using chlorosulfonic acid-urea, followed by sulfur trioxide-pyridine (96%), sulfamic acid (93%), sulfur trioxide-dioxan (90%) and chlorosulfonic acid-sodium chloride (60%). With sperm oil, the use of chlorosulfonic acid-urea afforded 99% sulfation with 90% retention of the double bond. ... 

Ponce, R. H., Yanagimachi, R., Urch, U. A., Yamagata, T, and Ito, M., 1993, Retention of hamster oolema fusibility with spermatozoa after various enzyme treatments A search for the molecules involved in sperm-egg fusion. Zygotes 1 163-171. 

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