Table 3.
Summary of calculated and experimental buffering capacities and amounts of base/acid required for neutralization of VFS and SFS.
| Sample | Calculated β4.2–5.2 (mM) |
Initial pH |
Experimental β4.2–5.2 (mM; mean ± SD) |
Amount of base to reach neutralization point (mmol, mean ±SD)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFS−O | 19 | 16.0 ± 4 | 20.6 ± 2.1 | |
| VFS−G | 20 | 23.4 ± 2.1 | 28 ± 1.5 | |
| VFS+G | 22 | 19.3 ± 3 | 28.3 ± 3.2 | |
| HVF1 | - | - | ||
| HVF2 | 46.5 | 80.7 | ||
| HVF3 | 32.7 | 51.1 | ||
| HVF4 | 26.5 | 49.6 | ||
| HVF5 | 41.2 | 89.8 | ||
| HVF6 | - | - | ||
| HVF7 | 21.1 | 40.2 | ||
| HVF8 | 26.4 | 54.2 | ||
| HVF9 | - | - | ||
| HVF10 | - | - | ||
| HVF11 | 55.0 | 81.1 | ||
| HVF12 | - | - | ||
| HVF13 | - | - | ||
| Sample |
Calculated β7–6 (mM) |
Experimental β7–6 (mM; mean ± SD) |
Amount of acid to reach neutralization point (µmol, mean ±SD)* |
|
| SFS−O | 33.8 | 35 ± 3 | 132 ± 5.4 | |
| SFS−F | 32.5 | 37.5 ± 3.1 | 101 ± 7.8 | |
| SFS+F | 31.2 | 40 ± 2.9 | 117 ± 4.2 | |
| HSF−1 | 37.5 ± 5 | 372.6 ± 6.9 | ||
Data represented as mean ± SD (N = 3) except for HVF samples (N = 1). Buffering capacities not displayed for samples with initial pH above 4.2.
*
Amount of base or acid required to change pH of 1 mL of vaginal fluids from starting pH to pH 7 and 1 mL seminal fluids from starting pH to pH 4.2 respectively.