Decapacitation factor purification with lipid solvents.

In 1957, Chang reported the presence of a substance in the seminal plasma of several mammalian species which had the ability to reverse the capacitation process (decapacitation factor or DF). Bedford & Chang (1962) were partially able to purify DF by ultra-centrifugation. Since that time, a great deal of effort has been given to the purification, isolation and identification of this substance (Chernoff, Pinsker, Dukelow 8c Williams, 1966; Dukelow, Chernoff & Williams, 1966a, b, 1967a, b; Pinsker & Williams, 1967; Williams, Abney, Chernoff, Dukelow & Pinsker, 1967; Dukelow & Chernoff, 1968). These reports have demonstrated that DF can be destroyed by crude amylase pre¬ parations but is stable to neuraminidase, pronase and glucose oxidase; that it exists in a wide variety of species but is not present in all mammalian seminal plasma; that it can be reduced in molecular size with pronase without de¬ stroying DF activity, and that it is resistant to destruction by heat and cold. Semen was collected from rabbits with an artificial vagina. These samples