A Note on the Copper Content of Sea-Urchin Semen and Sea Water

Abstract

1. The copper content of semen, seminal plasma and coelomic fluid of Echinus esculentus has been determined. The average figures for sea-urchins examined immediately after collection were: semen, 1.33µg/ml.; seminal plasma, 0.50µg/ml.; coelomic fluid, 0.07µg./ml. The accuracy of the method of estimation was ± 0.08µg. Cu/ml. original sample, which means that the amount of Cu in coelomic fluid is not significant. This figure for coelomic fluid is considerably lower than that obtained by Webb (1937) in the only previous examination. 2. The copper content of sea water (surface, off Keppel Pier, Millport) was 0.0064µg./ml.