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Absence of RNA Synthesis in Shed Human Spermatozoa

Nature volume 214, pages 402–403 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

THE spermatozoon, the carrier of the paternal inheritance, has a brief lifetime in vitro, during which it must be viable and motile until it has fulfilled its function of conjugating with the ovum. Mature, though non-motile, sperm can survive for many days in the male reproductive tract before being shed, and they may survive for up to 6 days in the female tract, according to recent observations1. On the other hand, in vitro, their viability, as judged by motility, is limited to a few hours. The metabolism of the sperm would therefore appear to be different in each of these several circumstances.

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Author notes

  1. MOSHE MARKEWITZ: New York Academy of Medicine, Ferdinand C. Valentine Fellow in Urology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, Departments of Urology and Biochemistry, Francis Delafield Hospital,

    MOSHE MARKEWITZ, SAMUEL GRAFF & RALPH J. VEENEMA

  2. the Squier Urological Clinic,

    MOSHE MARKEWITZ, SAMUEL GRAFF & RALPH J. VEENEMA

Authors
  1. MOSHE MARKEWITZ
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  2. SAMUEL GRAFF
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  3. RALPH J. VEENEMA
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MARKEWITZ, M., GRAFF, S. & VEENEMA, R. Absence of RNA Synthesis in Shed Human Spermatozoa. Nature 214, 402–403 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/214402b0

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