Adenosine triphosphate in human semen: a quantitative estimate of fertilizing potential.

The concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) per milliliter of ejaculate was found to be significantly correlated with the following parameters: sperm concentration, number of motile spermatozoa per milliliter, capacity of spermatozoa to migrate against gravity, and in vitro potential to penetrate zona-free hamster ova. The ATP concentration was significantly lower in the semen of infertile men with normal sperm concentration and motility, compared with matched fertile donors. The ATP concentration of deep-frozen donor semen was significantly correlated with its fertilizing potential as estimated from the pregnancy per cycle index in an artificial insemination by donor semen program. These qualities suggest that measurement of semen ATP may be a possible biochemical method for the quantitation of the actual fertilizing potential of the ejaculate.