Rat dorsal prostate is necessary for vaginal adhesion of the seminal plug and sperm motility in the uterine horns

The rat prostate comprises dorsal, ventral and lateral lobes that are morphologically and biochemically distinct. Lesions to these structures are expected to affect the quality of the ejaculate and male fertility. In experiment 1, we analyzed ejaculate parameters of males that had chemical lesions of the dorsal or ventral lobes. At pre-lesion and at 5 and 20 days post-lesion males were mated, and after ejaculation, seminal fluid and seminal plug were obtained from the mated females. In experiment 2, the ventral lobes were ablated, and the ejaculate was analyzed. In experiment 3, the fertility of males with chemically-lesioned dorsal lobes or ablation of the ventral lobes was evaluated. Chemical lesion of the dorsal lobe prevented the adhesion of the seminal plug to vaginal walls. When these males were tested at 5-days postlesion, no sperm were found in uterus, and at 20-days post-lesion, the few sperm encountered showed slow progressive motility. None of the females that mated with dorsal lobe-lesioned males became pregnant. However, chemical lesion or ablation of the ventral lobes did not affect ejaculate or fertility. Our results indicate that the dorsal prostatic lobes are indispensable for reproductive success in males, and define parameters of ejaculate with which fertility can be estimated.

Ultrastructural, histological and histochemical characteristics of the epithelial wall of the seminal vesicle of mature Scaptotrigona xanthotricha moure males (Hymenoptera, apidae, meliponini)

The seminal vesicles of mature Scaptotrigona xanthotricha males were investigated using light microscopy, histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The globular seminal vesicles were ~450 ìm in diameter and consisted of a sperm-filled lumen and a single layer of epithelium surrounded externally by a muscular sheath. The mitochondria-rich epithelial cells had many inclusions in the basal region. These inclusions were relatively large and contained membranous structures similar to myelin figures. The epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle showed none of the features characteristically associated with a secretory function, which suggested that the material in which the spermatozoa were immersed in the vesicle lumen was produced elsewhere along the ducts and/or during sexual maturation of the males. Spermatozoa were occasionally seen inside the inclusions, which suggested a possible spermiophagic activity for this epithelium.

Agenesia das vesículas seminais / Seminal vesicles agenesis

A agenesia das vesículas seminais é uma patologia pouco freqüente, podendo ser causa de infertilidade masculina. Os autores relatam um caso de infertilidade masculina em que o paciente apresentava baixo volume de ejaculado e azoospermia. O diagnóstico de agenesia bilateral das vesículas seminais foi feito pelo ultra-som transrretal, que se apresenta como um excelente método para avaliaçäo anatômica dessas estruturas. Portanto, diante de um caso de infertilidade masculina, deve-se ter em mente esta hipótese diagnóstica, especialmente quando acompanhado de hipospermia. Neste caso, o uso do ultra-som transrretal poupa o paciente de procedimentos diagnósticos mais agressivos