The normal environment of the vagina is a hostile one (c.f. Sexual conflict) for sperm cells, as it is very acidic (from the native microflora producing lactic acid), viscous, and patrolled by immune cells. The components in the seminal plasma attempt to compensate for this hostile environment.
Basic amines such as putrescine, spermine, spermidine and cadaverine are responsible for the smell and flavor of semen. These alkaline bases counteract and buffer the acidic environment of the vaginal canal, and protect DNA inside the sperm from acidic denaturation. The components and contributions of semen are as follows:Īpproximately 200 million – 500 million spermatozoa (also called sperm or spermatozoans), produced in the testes, are released per ejaculation.
