A new enzymatic method for quantitation of spermine in human semen.

A new enzymatic method for the quantitation of spermine in human semen, based on the specific reaction of barley seedling polyamine oxidase with spermine, is described. Small amounts of human semen were incubated with the polyamine oxidase; hydrogen peroxide formed in the oxidase reaction was measured photometrically by coupling 4-aminoantipyrine with N-ethyl-N-(3-methylphenyl)-N'-acetylethylenediamine in the presence of peroxidase. The detection limit of spermine of this method was about 10 nmol per tube. The mean level of spermine in human semen was 2.41 mumol/ml; the levels in vaginal fluid, saliva, serum, and urine were below the detectable limit by this procedure.