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Anatomy and physiology
Published in Suzanne Everett, Handbook of Contraception and Sexual Health, 2020
The seminal vesicles, prostate gland and bulbourethral glands are all accessory sex glands which provide sperm with transport medium and nutrients (Table 3.1). The seminal vesicles – These are secretory glands found in the base of the prostate gland and provide the transport medium for sperm. The fluid is alkaline and contains fructose, prostaglandins, ascorbic acid and globulins.The prostate gland – is found in the neck of the bladder in an adult; it is 3 cm in diameter and contains mucosal glands. Prostatic secretions are thin and milky and contain enzymes which include acid phosphatase, acid hydrolase, protease, fibrinolysin and calcium and citrates. Prostate secretions are important for stimulating sperm motility and for neutralising vaginal acidity.The bulbourethral glands – these secrete mucus to provide lubrication during ejaculation; they are found between the prostate and the penis.
Anatomy & Embryology
Published in Manit Arya, Taimur T. Shah, Jas S. Kalsi, Herman S. Fernando, Iqbal S. Shergill, Asif Muneer, Hashim U. Ahmed, MCQs for the FRCS(Urol) and Postgraduate Urology Examinations, 2020
Regarding the urethra, which of the following is TRUE?Transitional cell epithelium lines the length of the urethra.The external urethral sphincter is supplied by the cavernosal nerve.Bulbourethral glands open into the membranous urethra.The external sphincter completely surrounds the urethra in women.Skene glands release mucus into the vestibule in women.
Mucosal immune responses to microbes in genital tract
Published in Phillip D. Smith, Richard S. Blumberg, Thomas T. MacDonald, Principles of Mucosal Immunology, 2020
The front line of innate immune defense in the genital mucosa is provided by the physical barriers of the epithelium. In addition to the epithelial layer, mucus covers the internal surface of the vaginal tract, penis, and anal canal. Mucus is made up of mucins, which are complex high molecular weight glycoproteins that contain at least one and sometimes multiple protein domains that are sites of extensive O-glycan attachment. A major difference in the genital versus intestinal mucosae is the source of mucus-secreting cells. In the tissues that contain simple columnar epithelia (e.g., intestines, lung), goblet cells that are differentiated epithelial cells dedicated for mucus production and secretion are dispersed throughout the epithelial layer. Similarly, in simple columnar epithelium of the rectum and upper anal canal, goblet cells secrete mucus (Table 21.1). In the genital mucosa, which contains stratified squamous epithelium (male urethra, vagina, lower half of anal canal, foreskin), and in the lower anorectal canal, mucus is secreted from glandular exocrine cells. During ovulation, crypts in the cervix secrete mucus that descends and covers the vaginal canal. In the male reproductive tract, the bulbourethral glands produce mucus, which is incorporated into semen. In the uncircumcised penis, the inner foreskin epithelium is kept moist by cells secreting mucin locally. In addition to mucins, mucus contains a variety of other defense molecules including immunoglobulins, complement, antimicrobial peptides, lysozyme, and lactoferrin (discussed in more detail later).
Role of reactive oxygen species in male infertility: An updated review of literature
Published in Arab Journal of Urology, 2018
Hillary Wagner, Julie W. Cheng, Edmund Y. Ko
During spermatogenesis, sperm shed cytoplasm. By limiting intracellular antioxidants, this necessitates extracellular antioxidants to counteract oxidative stress. Seminal plasma secreted from the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands provides optimal pH, viscosity, nutrition, and a significant portion of antioxidants within the semen to support spermatozoa [42]. The activity levels of enzymatic antioxidants in the ejaculate of fertile men and men that had previously undergone vasectomy were similar [42], suggesting that antioxidant activity required for fertility is produced and secreted in seminal plasma. In vitro incubation of sperm in the absence of seminal plasma shows a significant increase in markers for oxidative stress and a corresponding reduction in motility after 2 h [43]. Seminal plasma in men with idiopathic infertility has been found to have a lower antioxidant carrying capacity compared to fertile men [44].
Aluminum reproductive toxicity: a summary and interpretation of scientific reports
Published in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2020
The prostate gland is composed of many secretory acini that contain epithelial cells, which produce prostatic fluid, and line a central lumen that is filled with fluid. Fibromuscular stromal tissue surrounds the acini. The seminal vesicles and prostate gland produce seminal fluid which mixes with sperm to form semen. The accessory organs are internal organs (in contrast to the penis and scrotum containing the testes) of the male reproductive system, including the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands. The bulbourethral glands produce a clear, slippery fluid that empties into the urethra. It lubricates the urethra and neutralizes acidity from urine in the urethra.
Current status of sperm functional genomics and its diagnostic potential of fertility in bovine (Bos taurus)
Published in Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine, 2018
Sellappan Selvaraju, Sivashanmugam Parthipan, Lakshminarayana Somashekar, B. Krishnan Binsila, Atul P. Kolte, Arunachalam Arangasamy, Janivara Parameshwaraiah Ravindra, Stephen A. Krawetz
The infertility in males is rapidly increasing and current genomic and proteomic approaches appear insufficient in elucidating the reason behind the case. The exceptional nature of spermatozoa lacking transcription and translation that aids the metabolites interacting with sperm during maturation events are vital for sperm function and fertilization. Semen as compared to peripheral blood is likely to contain higher concentrations of biomolecules (~3000) and byproducts secreted from the excurrent duct system of the male reproductive tract (Kovac et al. 2013). The study of seminal metabolites is in its infancy. The recent advancement in metabolite profiling of infertile individuals provides better insights to developing useful fertility markers (Chen et al. 2015). The seminal vesicles contribute to the majority of the seminal plasma (65–75% of semen fraction) components and include proteins, amino acids, citric acid, enzymes, fructose, prostaglandins, and vitamins. The prostate also substantially contributes to the seminal plasma (25–30% of semen fraction) that is comprised of minerals, primarily zinc, and includes proteolytic enzymes, prostate-specific antigens, as well as others. The bulbourethral glands contribute less than 1% of the semen fraction comprising mucus to regulate the viscosity of the semen and to provide a favorable environment for sperm transport. Seminal plasma, apart from providing energy substrates and their cofactors for spermatozoa metabolic activity, also regulates plasma membrane biogenesis, capacitation, acrosomal reaction, fructose mobilization, calcium signal transduction, oxidative phosphorylation, polymerization of contractile proteins, and immune regulation for achieving fertilization competence (Caballero et al. 2011).