Zinc and magnesium in human seminal plasma

Several hundreds of specimens of human seminal plasma have been analyzed for zinc, magnesium, acid phosphatase activity, cholesterol and fructose. The semen was also analyzed for sperm density, motility, viability and morphology. The mean concentrations of zinc and magnesium were 129 and 106 g per ml, respectively. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were correlated (r=0.84) and both ions appear suitable for evaluation of the secretory activity of the prostate gland. Three out of four semen samples with less than 50 g Zn and/or Mg per ml had pathological spermiograms compared to 40 per cent among those with more than 100 g/ml.Presented at the VIth World Congress on Fertility and Sterility, Tel Aviv, 1968.