Human Male Reproductive Organs Research Articles

Electron Microscopic (Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis) Study of Human Male Reproductive Organs and Semen

Recently, technological advancement helped to improve our knowledge on trace elements in human male reproductive organs and its secretion, semen. In this study, employing energy dispersive x-ray analysis facilities on electron microscope, presence of different elements in human male reproductive organs--testis, epididymis, caput, corpus and cauda, prostate gland, seminal vesicle, Cowper's gland and vas deferens-seminal plasma and spermatozoa pellet was studied. Several elements were observed. Gold was one among them that was present in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. It was also present in epididymis caput. Authors consider epididymis caput as the source of gold in semen.

Immunoglobulin-Fc binding factor in human male reproductive organs

Human seminal plasma, testis, seminal vesicle, epididymis, and prostate contain a component with an estimated Mr of 20 kD that binds human immunoglobulin-Fc. The factor did not bind goat-IgG-Fc, immunoglobulins of human, rat, mouse, goat, horse, or rabbit sera and did not interact with antibodies raised against Fc gamma receptors. The present findings show that this Fc binding factor in seminal plasma is a secretory product of the testis and accessory sex organs. It binds human Ig-Fc but does not meet the criteria of an Fc receptor. Additional IgG-Fc binding proteins with estimated Mr of 90, 88, and 86 kD were detected in the prostate, testis, and seminal vesicle, respectively.

Seminal Plasma Lipocalin-Type Prostaglandin D Synthase: A Potential New Marker for the Diagnosis of Obstructive Azoospermia

We examined the relationship between L-PGDS (lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase) levels in seminal plasma and the presence or absence of obstruction in the male seminal tract. Semen samples were collected and analyzed from 1) 10 patients with normal semen parameters, 2) 9 with obstructive azoospermia, 3) 20 after vasectomy and 4) 14 with nonobstructive azoospermia. Seminal L-PGDS was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. We found that seminal plasma L-PGDS in the groups with obstruction was significantly lower than in any of the other groups (p <0.001). Using a cutoff of 100 microg/l all men with obstructive azoospermia had L-PGDS less than 100 microg/l, while none with normal sperm parameters did. Men with nonobstructive azoospermia had less homogeneity of L-PGDS levels, including 29.6% with L-PGDS more than 100 microg/l. Our results suggest that seminal L-PGDS level can potentially be a biomarker for assessing patency in the seminal tract in men with azoospermia. In men with azoospermia and high seminal L-PGDS (more than 100 microg/l) the diagnosis of nonobstructive azoospermia can be potentially made without biopsy. Our study shows that using semen L-PGDS levels provides a diagnosis of nonobstructive azoospermia in almost 30% of these men.

Selenium in human male reproductive organs.

The objective of the study was to obtain information on the concentration and distribution of selenium throughout the human male reproductive tract. Material was removed at autopsy from 41 men who had died suddenly and unexpectedly. Semen samples were also provided from 184 men attending an andrology clinic for fertility investigation and from 32 healthy volunteers. Significant positive correlations in the selenium concentration were demonstrated between the different reproductive organs, the testis having the highest concentrations. No correlation was found between the concentration of selenium in the genital organs and liver, kidney or blood, suggesting that its uptake and/or biochemical activity in the reproductive organs may be controlled by similar mechanisms not shared by the other organs. No significant age-dependent changes could be detected in tissue selenium concentrations. In a group of men under fertility investigation, a significant positive correlation was obtained between seminal plasma concentrations of selenium and concentrations of spermatozoa in the same ejaculate. A significant positive correlation between concentrations of zinc and selenium in the same ejaculates indicated that selenium may arise largely from the prostate gland.

Group II phospholipase A2 in human male reproductive organs and genital tumors.

Group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a lipolytic enzyme suggested to play a role in inflammation and antibacterial defence. In seminal fluid, the concentration of PLA2 is exceedingly high under normal circumstances (about 1,000 times the concentration in blood plasma of healthy humans). To elucidate the origin of the enzyme present in seminal plasma, we investigated the expression of group II PLA2 in male reproductive organs both at protein and mRNA levels. In addition, the presence of the enzyme was studied in common male genital tumors. The methods used were immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and Northern blotting. Northern blotting gave positive results for group II PLA2 mRNA in normal prostate, whereas other normal genital tissues gave negative results. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of group II PLA2 gave identical results. The enzyme was produced exclusively by the secretory epithelial cells of the prostatic gland. Surprisingly, expression was restricted to the posterior lobe and paraurethral glands of the prostate. Cells of prostatic adenocarcinoma expressed group II PLA2, whereas cells of other male genital tumors contained neither the enzyme protein nor the mRNA of group II PLA2. In some cases prostatic cancer cell seemed to express group II PLA2 at a higher rate than normal prostatic gland cells. The high content of group II PLA2 in seminal plasma is due to the local production and secretion of the enzyme by the epithelial cells of the prostatic glands. Group II PLA2 is expressed focally, suggesting that specialized prostatic glands secrete this enzyme. All prostatic adenocarcinomas tested expressed group II PLA2 in variable amounts.

Immunolocalization of a sperm membrane protein in human male reproductive organs

A monoclonal antibody that induces agglutination of human sperm was used to localize the interacting antigen in various tissues by indirect immunofluorescence. The antibody localized to the immature sperm and Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubules, simple cuboidal epithelial cells of the rete testis, and the columnar epithelial cells of the ductuli efferentes. The present results show that the interacting protein is found associated with germ cells undergoing spermatogenesis.

Meiosis-Inducing and Meiosis-Preventing Substances in Human Male Reproductive Organs

The initiation of meiosis is controlled by two substances, a meiosis-inducing substance (MIS) and a meiosis-preventing substance (MPS). These have been shown to be present in reproductive organs of both sexes of different mammals. In this investigation MIS and MPS were also shown to be present in man. MIS was found in fetal and adult epididymides and testes. MPS was obtained from the tests of one fetus, which was delivered by laparotomy. MPS could not be found in the testes of another fetus, which was aborted by prostaglandin F2 alpha and oxytocin. No or only weak MPS activity was detectable in the adult testis. This report indicates that continued spermatogenesis might be influenced by the MIS:MPS ratio. MPS was shown not to be species-specific. MIS and MPS activity have been evaluated by qualitative scoring of the different germ cell stages present in fetal gonads after culture in used media containing MIS or MPS.