NeuroanatomySpinal neurons involved in the control of the seminal vesicles: A transsynaptic labeling study using pseudorabies virus in rats
Section snippets
Animals
Twenty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (Harlan France, France, 250–330 g) were used for this study. Rats were kept in animal facilities under a 12-h light/dark cycle, light at 8:00 a.m., with food and water ad libitum. Three groups of rats were prepared (1) both hypogastric and pelvic nerves were kept intact (n=10); (2) the right hypogastric nerve (HGN) and both pelvic nerves were sectioned (n=5). In order to maintain the animals in healthy condition, the urine was expressed manually three times
Nerve intact
Three days after PRV retrograde tracing from the left seminal vesicle (n=3), labeled neurons were found in the L1–L2 levels and L6–S1 levels. About 27% of all PRV-positive neurons were found in the ipsilateral IML in segments L1–L2, fewer (5%) labeled neurons were found on the contralateral side corresponding to the site of sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the HGNs. Fifty-five percent of all PRV-positive neurons were found in the ipsilateral SPN in segments L6–S1 corresponding to the site
Discussion
This study provides direct mapping of spinal neurons innervating rat seminal vesicles and confirms that seminal vesicles are innervated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves (Kepper and Keast, 1997).
The seminal vesicles consist of glandular secretory tissue surrounded by smooth muscle. They produce complex secretions which are emptied into the lumen of the urogenital duct contributing to the fluid component of semen (for review, see Setchell, 1994). Only limited data are available
Conclusion
We have identified sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord that simultaneously innervate the seminal vesicles in the rat. A group of neurons which expresses GAL-IR was also located in MG of L3–L4 levels and is closely connected with sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons. These data suggest that LSt neurons also control the seminal vesicle and are involved in coordination of the spinal control of ejaculation.
Acknowledgments
Prof. Lynn W. Enquist (Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA) is warmly acknowledged for his contribution by providing the bartha strain of PRV and the antiserum against PRV.
References (66)
- et al.
Neuropeptide Y in the human male genital tract
Life Sci
(1984) - et al.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the hamster seminal vesicle and coagulating gland: an immunohistochemical, autoradiographical, and pharmacological study
Peptides
(1996) - et al.
Peptidergic substance P nerves in the genito-urinary tract
Neuroscience
(1978) - et al.
Ejaculation elicited by microstimulation of lumbar spinothalamic neurons
Eur Urol
(2008) - et al.
Fos immunoreactivity in the rat brain following consummatory elements of sexual behavior: a sex comparison
Brain Res
(1996) - et al.
Distribution of Fos immunoreactivity following mating versus anogenital investigation in the male rat brain
Neuroscience
(1997) - et al.
Effects of seminal vesicle and coagulating gland ablation on fertility in rats
Reprod Toxicol
(1991) - et al.
Peptidergic innervation of the human male genital tract
J Urol
(1983) - et al.
Nitric oxide synthase and tyrosine hydroxylase are colocalized in nerves supplying the postnatal human male genitourinary organs
J Urol
(1996) - et al.
Immunohistochemical evidence for a spinothalamic pathway co-containing cholecystokinin- and galanin-like immunoreactivities in the rat
Neuroscience
(1987)
Lumbosacral sympathetic trunk as a compensatory pathway for seminal emission after bilateral hypogastric nerve transections in the dog
J Urol
A mechanism of retrograde ejaculation after bilateral hypogastric nerve transections in the dog
J Urol
Male genital tract antioxidant enzymes-their ability to preserve sperm DNA integrity
Mol Cell Endocrinol
The effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on sperm quality, lipid peroxidation and testosterone levels of male Wistar rats
Theriogenology
Reproductive physiology and behavior in the male rat following acute and chronic peripheral adrenergic depletion by guanethidine
Pharmacol Biochem Behav
Immunohistochemical localization of substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide in vas deferens and seminal vesicle, and the effect of these and eight other neuropeptides on resting tension and neurally evoked contractile activity
Regul Pept
Peptidergic innervation of the human prostate, seminal vesicle and vas deferens
Acta Histochem
Neural activation following sexual behavior in the male and female rat brain
Behav Brain Res
Identification of lumbar spinal neurons controlling simultaneously the prostate and the bulbospongiosus muscles in the rat
Neuroscience
Galanin and neurokinin-1 receptor immunoreactive spinal neurons controlling the prostate and the bulbospongiosus muscle identified by transsynaptic labeling in the rat
Neuroscience
Immunohistochemical and enzyme histochemical localization of peptidergic, aminergic and cholinergic nerve fibers in the rat seminal vesicle
J Urol
Ultrastructure and innervation of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) seminal vesicle
Acta Anat (Basel)
Evidence for alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype predominance in the rat seminal vesicle
J Pharm Pharmacol
Enkephalin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the feline genito-urinary tract
Histochemistry
Origin and distribution of VIP vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-nerves in the genito-urinary tract
Cell Tissue Res
Observations on the structure and autonomic innervation of the guinea-pig seminal vesicle and ductus deferens
J Anat
Noradrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the accessory sexual glands in male sheep
Acta Vet Hung
Functions of adrenergic and cholinergic nerves in canine effectors of seminal emission
Acta Physiol Scand
Afferent and sympathetic neurons projecting into lumbar visceral nerves of the male rat
J Comp Neurol
Adrenergic innervation of the human testis, epididymis, ductus deferens and prostate: a fluorescence microscopic and fluorimetric study
Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat
Definition of neuronal circuitry controlling the activity of phrenic and abdominal motoneurons in the ferret using recombinant strains of pseudorabies virus
J Neurosci
Intracellular trafficking and localization of the pseudorabies virus Us9 type II envelope protein to host and viral membranes
J Virol
Role of fluid from seminal vesicles and coagulating glands in sperm transport into the uterus and fertility in rats
J Reprod Fertil
Cited by (34)
Spinal interneurons of the lower urinary tract circuits
2021, Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and ClinicalCitation Excerpt :Propriospinal neurons are found not only in circuits subserving body or limb motions, they are also present in spinal networks responsible for autonomic functions (Darlot et al., 2012; Hou et al., 2008; Michael et al., 2019). For example, a bilateral cluster of motor neurons innervating the bulbospongiosus muscle and seminal vesicles involved in ejaculation is located in the dorsomedial nucleus (DM) in L6-S1 segments, and a set of propriospinal neurons presynaptic to DM motoneurons is located close to the central canal in L3-L4 segments (Best et al., 2013; Dobberfuhl et al., 2014; Sun et al., 2009). Overlapping sets of propriospinal neurons subserving two closely related organs such as the EUS and bulbospongiosus muscle suggest their interaction and probable coordination.
Gastrin-releasing peptide
2021, Handbook of Hormones: Comparative Endocrinology for Basic and Clinical ResearchInhibitory Role of Gamma-Aminobutyric Receptors in Paraventricular Nucleus on Ejaculatory Responses in Rats
2020, Journal of Sexual MedicineCitation Excerpt :As a neurotransmitter, NE is synthesized and released by the central nervous system and positively correlated with increased SNS activity. Over the last few years, the effects of NE on the contractions of the vas deferens and the seminal vesicles receive much attention32 because its inhibitory effect could potentially be helpful for patients suffering from PE by extending the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT).33,34 It is well established that the PVN plays an important role in mediating the sympathetic outflow.35
Male reproductive organs
2020, Principles of Tissue EngineeringThe interest of virtual dissection: The example of pelvic innervation
2018, Bulletin de l'Academie Nationale de Medecine