Arrata W S, Burt T, Corder S
Fertil Steril. 1978 Sep;30(3):329-33.
Spermatozoa do not achieve full maturation and fertilizing capacity until passage through the epididymis. During this time they also gain motility, although spermatozoa do not move until after ejaculation. The organic fraction of human seminal plasma contains phosphate esters, particularly glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC), phosphorylcholine (PCh), and inorganic phosphate (Pi). GPC is found in relatively high concentrations in the semen of many male animals, including man. GPC is synthesized by the epithelial cells of the epididymis, apparently under androgenic control. Consequently, it has been suggested that GPC might be a useful indicator of epididymal function. We have measured GPC, Pi, and PCh in fresh and frozen semen samples, using phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR). All samples were assayed for phosphate esters. It was found that PCh was totally hydrolized to Pi. The average ratio of GPC to total phosphate (TP = GPC + Pi) remained constant at a value of about 0.1 for sperm counts over 20 million/ml. The ratio for azoospermic specimens was 0.02 or less; the same results were obtained from vasectomy specimens. This finding indicates that most of the GPC comes from the epididymis. There was a significant correlation between motility, progression, and the GPC ratio. Poor motility and progression in the specimens were accompanied by low GPC ratios regardless of the sperm counts.
精子在通过附睾之前不能达到完全成熟和受精能力。在此期间，它们也获得运动能力，尽管精子直到射精后才会移动。人类精浆的有机成分包含磷酸酯，特别是甘油磷酸胆碱（GPC）、磷酸胆碱（PCh）和无机磷酸盐（Pi）。在包括人类在内的许多雄性动物的精液中发现GPC的浓度相对较高。GPC由附睾上皮细胞合成，显然受雄激素控制。因此，有人提出GPC可能是附睾功能的一个有用指标。我们使用磷核磁共振（31P NMR）测量了新鲜和冷冻精液样本中的GPC、Pi和PCh。所有样本都检测了磷酸酯。发现PCh完全水解为Pi。对于精子计数超过2000万/ml的样本，GPC与总磷酸盐（TP = GPC + Pi）的平均比值保持恒定，约为0.1。无精子症标本的该比值为0.02或更低；输精管结扎术标本也得到了相同的结果。这一发现表明，大部分GPC来自附睾。运动能力、前进运动与GPC比值之间存在显著相关性。无论精子计数如何，标本中运动能力差和前进运动不佳都伴随着低GPC比值。
