Physiological function of seminal vesicle secretions on male fecundity

• Published in: Reproductive medicine and biology Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 241 - 246
• Main Authors: Noda, Taichi, Ikawa, Masahito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.07.2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Accessory gland; artificial insemination; Copulation; copulatory plug; CRISPR; Defects; Fecundity; Females; Fertility; Fertilization; Genomes; male accessory gland; Males; Mini Review; Mini Reviews; Oocytes; Peptides; Physiology; Pregnancy; Proteins; Proteomics; Reproductive system; Secretions; Seminal vesicle; Sperm; sperm fertilizing ability; uterine environment; Uterus; Vesicles; sperm fertilizing ability; copulatory plug; uterine environment; artificial insemination; male accessory gland
• ISSN: 1445-5781; 1447-0578
• DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12282

Background A mixture of spermatozoa and accessory gland secretions (from seminal vesicles, prostates, and coagulating glands) is ejaculated into the female reproductive tract at copulation. However, the physiological function of accessory glands on male fecundity remains unclear. Methods Publications regarding the physiological functions of male accessory glands were summarized. Main findings (Results) The functions of accessory glands have been studied using male rodents surgically removed coagulating glands (CG), prostates (PR), or seminal vesicles (SV). CG‐removed males are fertile or subfertile, while the fecundity of PR‐removed males is controversial. SV‐removed males show copulatory plug defects, leading to fewer sperm in the uterus and severe subfertility. TGM4, SVS2, and PATE4 were identified as essential factors for copulatory plug formation. When the sufficient number of epididymal spermatozoa was artificially injected into a uterus (AI method), they could efficiently fertilize oocytes, implicating that accessory gland secretions are not essential. Seminal vesicle secretions (SVSs) improved fertilization rates only when low numbers of spermatozoa were used for AI. The changes of uterine environment by SVSs could not improve the pregnancy rate. Conclusion Accessory gland factors are critical for copulatory plug formation and support sperm fertilizing ability.