Biomaterial Database

Sialic acid in semen of normozoospermic men. 1998

D du Toit, and M S Bornman, and M H Fourie, and N H Aneck-Hahn, and M J Pitout

Department of Urology, University of Pretoria and Pretoria Academic Hospital, South Africa.

Good sperm motility in normozoospermic men was associated with high bound and total sialic acid (SA) and pyruvate concentrations in the seminal plasma, as well as high endogenous (sperm) pyruvate concentrations. The presence of sialidase in the seminal plasma was also demonstrated for the first time. The results suggest that SA is metabolized to pyruvate by a N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA)-aldolase in the seminal plasma and that pyruvate subsequently serves as an energy source for sperm.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009439	Neuraminidase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of alpha-2,3, alpha-2,6-, and alpha-2,8-glycosidic linkages (at a decreasing rate, respectively) of terminal sialic residues in oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, colominic acid, and synthetic substrate. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992)	Sialidase,Exo-alpha-Sialidase,N-Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Oligosaccharide Sialidase,Exo alpha Sialidase,Glycohydrolases, N-Acylneuraminate,N Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Sialidase, Oligosaccharide
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012661	Semen	The thick, yellowish-white, viscid fluid secretion of male reproductive organs discharged upon ejaculation. In addition to reproductive organ secretions, it contains SPERMATOZOA and their nutrient plasma.	Seminal Plasma,Plasma, Seminal
D013081	Sperm Motility	Movement characteristics of SPERMATOZOA in a fresh specimen. It is measured as the percentage of sperms that are moving, and as the percentage of sperms with productive flagellar motion such as rapid, linear, and forward progression.	Motilities, Sperm,Motility, Sperm,Sperm Motilities
D019158	N-Acetylneuraminic Acid	An N-acyl derivative of neuraminic acid. N-acetylneuraminic acid occurs in many polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids in animals and bacteria. (From Dorland, 28th ed, p1518)	Sialic Acid,Acid, N-Acetylneuraminic,Acid, Sialic,N Acetylneuraminic Acid
D019289	Pyruvic Acid	An intermediate compound in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. In thiamine deficiency, its oxidation is retarded and it accumulates in the tissues, especially in nervous structures. (From Stedman, 26th ed)	Pyruvate,Acid, Pyruvic