This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Owen, D. H. Articles by Katz, D. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Owen, D. H. Articles by Katz, D. F.

A Review of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Human Semen and the Formulation of a Semen Simulant

DAVID F. KATZ^*,

From the ^* Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Correspondence to: Dr Derek H. Owen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Box 90281, Durham, NC 27708 (e-mail: dhowen{at}duke.edu).

A fluid medium was developed to simulate the salient physical and chemical properties of human semen. The composition of the medium was based upon an extensive review of the literature on constituents of human semen. In choosing the ingredients for this medium, the goal was to emphasize properties that influence interactions of human semen with topical contraceptive, prophylactic, or therapeutic products. Among these properties, pH and buffering capacity, osmolarity, ionic strength, and rheological properties play dominant roles in the physico-chemical processes that govern drug release kinetics and delivery vehicle distribution.

     Key words: Composition, human, semen, simulant, microbicide

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. M. Butler, W. Delport, S. L. Kosakovsky Pond, M. K. Lakdawala, P. M. Cheng, S. J. Little, D. D. Richman, and D. M. Smith The Origins of Sexually Transmitted HIV Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Science Translational Medicine, February 10, 2010; 2(18): 18re1 - 18re1. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Skinner, A. O. Kiselev, C. E. Isaacs, T. A. Mietzner, R. C. Montelaro, and M. F. Lampe Evaluation of WLBU2 Peptide and 3-O-Octyl-sn-Glycerol Lipid as Active Ingredients for a Topical Microbicide Formulation Targeting Chlamydia trachomatis Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., February 1, 2010; 54(2): 627 - 636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. L. Edstrom, J. Malm, B. Frohm, J. A. Martellini, A. Giwercman, M. Morgelin, A. M. Cole, and O. E. Sorensen The Major Bactericidal Activity of Human Seminal Plasma Is Zinc-Dependent and Derived from Fragmentation of the Semenogelins J. Immunol., September 1, 2008; 181(5): 3413 - 3421. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Lackman-Smith, C. Osterling, K. Luckenbaugh, M. Mankowski, B. Snyder, G. Lewis, J. Paull, A. Profy, R. G. Ptak, R. W. Buckheit Jr., et al. Development of a Comprehensive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Screening Algorithm for Discovery and Preclinical Testing of Topical Microbicides Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., May 1, 2008; 52(5): 1768 - 1781. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Sabatte, A. Ceballos, S. Raiden, M. Vermeulen, K. Nahmod, J. Maggini, G. Salamone, H. Salomon, S. Amigorena, and J. Geffner Human Seminal Plasma Abrogates the Capture and Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 to CD4+ T Cells Mediated by DC-SIGN J. Virol., December 15, 2007; 81(24): 13723 - 13734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Russo, S. Spurr-Michaud, A. Tisdale, J. Pudney, D. Anderson, and I. K. Gipson Mucin gene expression in human male urogenital tract epithelia Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2006; 21(11): 2783 - 2793. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]