On the origin of prostaglandins in human seminal fluid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To evaluate the origin of seminal prostaglandins, genital tract fluids were analyzed for prostaglandin content in 2 clinical situations. Six patients delivered serum samples before and after vasectomy. In these patients, the prostaglandin concentration remained essentially unchanged although sperm density decreased to zero. In another patient, secretory products from the testis, epididymis and the ejaculate, representing mainly the secretion of the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland, were collected separately. Secretions obtained from the testis and epididymis did not contain detectable amounts of prostaglandins, while in the ejaculate from the same patient the concentration was within normal limits. The results of the study show that the testis and epididymis do not contribute significantly to the prostaglandin content of human seminal fluid. The previous assumption that the seminal vesicles are the main source of seminal prostaglandins is thus supported.