Isolation of leukotriene C4 from human seminal fluid

LTC4 was isolated and characterized from seminal fluid of seven human volunteers. A compound with a similar retention time to that of synthetic LTC4 was obtained using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The ultraviolet absorbance of the extracted substance was identical to synthetic LTC4. Furthermore this compound contracted the guinea pig ileum and lung parenchymal strip. Its effects were antagonized by the leukotriene antagonist FPL55712. It was concluded that LTC4 is present in human seminal fluid in very small amounts (about 100 ng/ejaculate). The possible physiological functions of LTC4 in the reproductive tract are discussed.