Electrophoretical patterns of seminal plasma proteins in patients with cystic fibrosis

Seminal plasma (n = 12) from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were analyzed by gel-electrophoresis using seminal plasma and expressed prostatic secretion from fertile men as controls. Heavy precipitation at the entering position of the gel and streaking in the gel matrix was observed, demonstrating a reduced solubility of seminal proteins in CF. Comparison of the protein patterns evidenced that CF-seminal plasma (CF-SP) mainly consisted of prostatic components. Although lactoferrin was undetectable in all samples, trace amounts of low molecular weight proteins were observed in two patients. This latter finding could imply that CF-SP may contain proteolytic fragments of prostatic and/or vesicular proteins or de novo synthesized components.