Physiology of the Male Reproductive System Function of the Seminal Vesicles

Dr. Carlo Mendoza - Tortuous, loculated tube lined with secretory epithelium
- Mucoid secretion rich in fructose, citric acid, PG’s and fibrinogen
Three Major Subdivisions - Main bulk of the semen
- Spermatogenesis - Prostaglandins aid in fertilization:
- Performance of the male sexual act o Reacting with the female cervical mucus
- Regulation of reproductive functions by hormones o Possibly causes backward reverse peristaltic
contractions in the uterus and fallopian tubes
Spermatogenesis o Thin, milky secretion rich in Calcium, citrate ion,
- Occurs in the seminiferous tubules phosphate ion, clotting enzyme and profibrinolysin
- Anterior gonadotrophic hormone control o Helps in making the semen alkaline
o FSH and LH o Buffers vaginal secretions
- Starts at 13 years of age o Sperm motility is optimal at pH 6-6.5

Hormones That Stimulate Spermatogenesis Capacitation of Spermatozoa

- Testosterone
o From Leydig cells
o For growth and division of the testicular germinal cells
- Luteinizing hormone
o Anterior pituitary gland
o Stimulates Leydig cells
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
o Anterior pituitary gland
o Stimulates Sertoli cells
o Conversion of spermatids to sperm
- Estrogen
o From testosterone by Sertoli cells
o Stimulated by FSH
- Growth Hormone
o Controls metabolic function of the testes
o Promotes early division of spermatogonia
o Severe deficiency or absence leads to infertility

Mature Sperm
- Head
o Condensed nucleus
o Thin cytoplasm and cellular matrix
o Acrosome
- Tail / Flagellum
o Central skeleton
o Thin cellular matrix
o Collection of mitochondria

Physiology of Mature Sperm

- Motile (flagellated movement)
- Travels 1-4 mm/min
- Active in neutral or slightly alkaline medium
- Activity increases as temperature increases
- 1-2 days in the female genital tract
Acrosome Reaction
Maturation and Storage of Sperm
- Maturation occurs in the epididymis
- Stored mainly in the vas deferens
- 120M sperm per day
- Deeply suppressed
- Becomes motile after ejaculation – “maturation”

Semen
- Ejaculated during male sexual act
- Milky and mucoid
- 60% from seminal vesicles
- 30% from prostate gland
- 10% from vas deferens
- Small amount from mucous glands (bulbourethral glands)
- pH of 7.5
- Forms a weak fibrin coagulum
- Coagulum dissolves within 15-30 minutes Abnormal Spermatogenesis and Fertility
- Destruction of seminiferous tubules
o Bilateral orchitis
o Inborn (degenerate tubular epithelia)
o Excessive temperature of the testes
Effect of Temperature Male Climacteric
- Increased temperature prevents spermatogenesis - Decrease sexual function secondary to decrease in testosterone
- Destroys the seminiferous tubules - Late 50’s-60’s
- Scrotum – cooling mechanism - Average of 68
o Maintains 2 degC difference between the body and - Hot flushes, suffocation and psychic disorders
testes
o Warm temperature – “down” Abnormalities of Male Sexual Function
o Cold temperature – “up” - Abnormalities of prostate gland
o Small during childhood
Cryptorchidism o Increase size due to testosterone
- Failure of testes to descend to the scrotum o Benign prostatic fibroadenoma
- Descent occurs at 3 weeks to 1 month before birth  In older men
- Higher temperature in the abdomen  Urinary obstruction
- Causes degeneration of the tubular epithelium  Not due to testosterone
- Failure of descent due to inadequate testosterone o Cancer of the prostate
 2-3% of male deaths
Effect of Sperm Count  Testosterone increases growth of cancer
- Semen per ejaculation = 3.5 mL cells
- Average sperm is 120M per mL of semen  Removal of testes inhibits growth
- In “normal” males, it varies from 35M to 200M  Administration of estrogen
- Sperm per ejaculation = 400M - Hypogonadism
- Infertile if sperm per ejaculation is 20M and below - Hypergonadism
o Interstitial Leydig cell tumours
Effect of Morphology and Motility o Rare
o More than 100x normal testosterone levels
Male Sexual Act o Rapid growth of muscles and bones
- Most important source of sensory nerve signal for initiating sexual o Slightly small stature
act: GLANS PENIS
o Special sensitive end-organ system that transmits Prepared by: Paolo Warren (Med-IA)
sexual sensation
- Impulses may also arise from structures near and inside the penis
such as the scrotum and the external anal sphincter
- Psychic element – sexual thoughts

Stages of Male Sexual Act

- Penile erection
o Controlled by the parasympathetic nerves
- Lubrication
- Emission and ejaculation
o Sympathetic nerves

Control of Male Sexual Functions by Hormones

Testosterone
- Secreted by the interstitial cells of Leydig
- Mostly converted to dihydrotestosterone
- Numerous in the first few months of life and in the adult after
puberty
- Small amount secreted by the adrenals

Functions of Testosterone
- “masculinisation”
o Fetal life – HCG stimulates testes
o Onset of puberty  remainder of life – luteinizing
hormone
o Not present during childhood
- Causes testicular descent

Development of Adult Sexual Characteristics

- Distribution of body hair
- Baldness
- Voice changes
- Thickening of the skin and emergence of acne
- Protein formation and muscle development

Development of Adult Sexual Characteristics

- Increases bone matrix and calcium retention
- Increases basal metabolic rate
- Increases red blood cells
- Increases sodium reabsorption and water retention