A Neuropeptide in Human Semen: Oxytocin

Goverde, H.J.M.; Bisseling, Jan G.A.; Wetzels, A.M.M.; Braat, D. D. M.; Pesman, G. J.; Sweep, Fred C.G.J.; Meuleman, E.J.H.

doi:10.3109/01485019808988540

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Oxytocin is produced by the prostate epithelial cells and is secreted into the seminal plasma (Nicholson et al 1985;Goverde et al 1998). Thus, a loss of oxytocin production by the epithelial cells with tumour progression may be accompanied by a decrease in seminal fluid oxytocin concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and the oxytocin receptor in the human prostate

et al. 2004

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Oxytocin has been implicated in the regulation of prostate growth. However, the cellular localisation of oxytocin in the normal and diseased human prostate is not known. Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and oxytocin receptor were detected by immunohistochemistry in tissues from patients undergoing routine prostatectomy and in normal human prostate epithelial and stromal cell lines. Western blot analysis detected a single band at 14 kDa with neurophysin antiserum and a 66-kDa band with oxytocin receptor antiserum in epithelial and stromal cell lines. Similar sized bands were also detected in extracts of hyperplastic and adenocarcinomic prostate tissues. Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and oxytocin receptor were present in stromal and epithelial cell lines and in tissue from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The peptides were localised predominantly to the epithelial cells, although discrete areas of stromal staining were also observed. There was a significant difference in the intensity of oxytocin-staining between tissue displaying benign prostatic hyperplasia and invasive carcinoma, with less immunoreactivity being present in the malignant epithelial cells. Thus, oxytocin and its neurophysin and receptor are present in epithelial and stromal cells of the human prostate. Oxytocin expression is reduced with tumour progression and may provide a marker for invasive disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and the oxytocin receptor in the human prostate

et al. 2004

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“…Hypothalamic nonapeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin (an antidiuretic hormone - ADH) were found in human seminal plasma in the 1990s in amounts in the low pg/mL range. Circulating hormones stem from the hypothalamus and are released by neurohypophysis, but there are also other peripheral sources of these hormones, especially the prostate [ 49 – 52 ].…”

Section: Non-reproductive Hormones In Seminal Plasmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and reproductive roles of hormones in seminal plasma

Vítků

Kolátorová

Hampl

2017

Basic Clin. Androl.

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Only 2–5% of seminal fluid is composed of spermatozoa, while the rest is seminal plasma. The seminal plasma is a rich cocktail of organic and inorganic compounds including hormones, serving as a source of nutrients for sperm development and maturation, protecting them from infection and enabling them to overcome the immunological and chemical environment of the female reproductive tract. In this review, a survey of the hormones found in human seminal plasma, with particular emphasis on reproductive hormones is provided. Their participation in fertilization is discussed including their indispensable role in ovum fertilization. The origin of individual hormones found in seminal plasma is discussed, along with differences in the concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma. A part of review is devoted to methods of measurement, emphasising particular instances in which they differ from measurement in blood plasma. These methods include separation techniques, overcoming the matrix effect and current ways for end-point measurement, focusing on so called hyphenated techniques as a combination of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry. Finally, the informative value of their determination as markers of male fertility disorders (impaired spermatogenesis, abnormal sperm parameters, varicocele) is discussed, along with instances where measuring their levels in seminal plasma is preferable to measurement of levels in blood plasma.

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“…Demonstration of oxytocin reactivity suggests that urethral glands do not provide only mucus components. Oxytocin production has previously been noted in organs of the male reproductive tract, such as the testis, epididymis and prostate gland, in several mammals including man [9,10,12,18]. However, in most studies, attention was chiefly devoted to the oxytocinergic paracrine mechanisms, which locally regulate many processes, such as steroid metabolism, muscle contraction and cell growth, rather than oxytocin release into the semen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It might influence some sperm activities as well as interact with female tissues. The direct effects on sperm number and motility have been investigated, but the resulting data were not statistically significant [12]. Although we ignored whether spermatozoa have oxytocin receptors, the presence of oxytocinase on their surfaces [20] suggests that the hormone might be active in spermatozoa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the male genital tract, paracrine secretion of oxytocin has been suggested in the testis, epididymis and prostate [1,6,7], where many functions such as cell growth, spermiation, steroidogenesis and muscle contraction could be affected [7][8][9][10]. Furthermore, seminal plasma also contains oxytocin, whose functional role still is uncertain [11][12][13]. This peptide is believed to originate from the prostate [1], but it could be also supplied by other sexual glands, which to date have not been examined in this regard.…”

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Oxytocin Immunoreactivity in the Human Urethral (Littre's) Glands

Isola

Cossu

Lisa

et al. 2010

Journal of Reproduction and Development

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Abstract. Oxytocin is a cyclic nonapeptide whose best known effects are stimulation of uterine smooth muscle cells during labor and of milk ejection during lactation. Circulating oxytocin originates from the hypothalamus, but its production has also been documented in peripheral tissues. Furthermore, seminal plasma also contains oxytocin, but its functional role is still unknown, although its secretion is generally ascribed to the prostate. In this study, we investigated the possibility that seminal oxytocin is also secreted by other exocrine glands of the human male genital tract. Intramural (Littrè's) glands isolated from bioptic specimens of normal urethrae were processed for immunogold localization of oxytocin. Immunostaining was detected in principal cells, with gold particles specifically found on secretory granules. Basal and endocrine cells were unstained. The present findings suggest that urethral glands not only produce the mucinous layer that protects and lubricates the urethral wall, but also are potential sources of other seminal components, such as oxytocin, which probably play still unclear roles in reproductive physiology. Key words: Immunogold, Oxytocin, Urethral glands (J. Reprod. Dev. 56: [94][95][96][97] 2010) xytocin is a nonapeptide in which a disulfide bond between cysteine residues confers a cyclic structure. Its action is mediated by a transmembrane polypeptide receptor coupled with a G protein pathway, widely distributed throughout the human body [1,2]. Oxytocin is mainly studied as a hypothalamic hormone as well as vasopressin, from which it differs in two amino acids only. The best known biological effects of circulating oxytocin are those on female reproductive organs, such as stimulation of uterine contractions and of milk ejection. Moreover, effects on organs of the male genital tract have also been documented, such as penile erection and ejaculation [3,4]. In addition, a number of functions are thought to be regulated by local oxytocinergic systems, since oxytocin production has been documented in peripheral tissues [5]. In the male genital tract, paracrine secretion of oxytocin has been suggested in the testis, epididymis and prostate [1,6,7], where many functions such as cell growth, spermiation, steroidogenesis and muscle contraction could be affected [7][8][9][10]. Furthermore, seminal plasma also contains oxytocin, whose functional role still is uncertain [11][12][13]. This peptide is believed to originate from the prostate [1], but it could be also supplied by other sexual glands, which to date have not been examined in this regard. In this study, we show that the intramural glands of the human urethra (Littrè's glands) contain oxytocin-reactive material, suggesting the presence of the peptide in their exocrine secretions. Materials and MethodsSamples of the distal urethra were obtained from 4 patients aged 54-67 undergoing surgery for radical cystectomy at the Urologic Clinic of the University of Cagliari. The procedures were approved by the Local Ethics Committee, Unive...

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A Neuropeptide in Human Semen: Oxytocin

Cited by 20 publications

References 15 publications

Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and the oxytocin receptor in the human prostate

Oxytocin, oxytocin-associated neurophysin and the oxytocin receptor in the human prostate

Occurrence and reproductive roles of hormones in seminal plasma

Oxytocin Immunoreactivity in the Human Urethral (Littre's) Glands

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