Bovine seminal plasma contains factors that enhance lymphocyte transformation in vitro

The important immunosuppressive properties of seminal plasma have significant functions in the processes of reproduction. They mask the presence of an immunostimulating activity. From bovine seminal plasma two active factors have been isolated and characterized with marked enhancing activity for in vitro PHA-dependent lymphocyte transformation. They have inosine and hypoxanthine structures, as confirmed by UV absorption profiles, TLC, mass spectrometry, HPLC patterns, behavior to enzymatic treatments, and breaking of purine ring after acid treatment. Nevertheless, their biological activities are about two orders of magnitude higher than those of commercially available inosine and hypoxanthine standards. Biological activities became practically identical when these were processed (HPLC) in the same way as native molecules. A study to explain such a discrepancy is in progress.