Primary seminal vesicle adenocarcinoma with a history of seminal vesicle cyst:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Primary seminal vesicle adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy that is difficult to diagnose.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old man with an 18-year history of a seminal vesicle cyst presented with worsening hematospermia that had persisted for one month.Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging indicated a mass with a cystic-solid component.Robot-assisted seminal vesicle tumor resection was performed,and primary seminal vesicle adenocarcinoma was confirmed pathologically.The patient received pelvic radiotherapy for six weeks,and to date,no evidence of recurrence has been found.CONCLUSION Seminal vesicle cysts should be monitored long-term.Seminal vesicle adenocarcinoma presents with non-specific symptoms and can be diagnosed by immunohistochemistry.

Acute diffuse peritonitis secondary to a seminal vesicle abscess:A case report

BACKGROUND Seminal vesicle abscess(SVA)is the manifestation of a relatively rare urinary system infection.In response to urinary system inflammation,an abscess forms in special locations.However,acute diffuse peritonitis(ADP)induced by SVA is unusual.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a left SVA in a male patient complicated with pelvic abscess,ADP,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,infectious shock,bacteremia,and acute appendiceal extraserous suppurative inflammation as a result of a long-term indwelling urinary catheter.The patient received a course of morinidazole+cefminol antibiotics but showed no obvious relief,so the perineal SVA underwent puncture drainage and abdominal abscess drainage+appendectomy was performed.The operations were successful.After the operation,anti-infection,anti-shock,and nutritional support treatments were continued and various laboratory indicators were regularly reviewed.The patient was discharged from the hospital after recovery.This disease is a challenge for the clinician because of the unusual spreading path of the abscess.Moreover,appropriate intervention and adequate drainage of abdominal and pelvic lesions are necessary,especially when the primary focus cannot be determined.CONCLUSION The etiology of ADP varies,but acute peritonitis secondary to SVA is very rare.In this patient,the left SVA not only affected the adjacent prostate and bladder but also spread retrogradely through the vas deferens,forming a pelvic abscess in the loose tissues of the extraperitoneal fascia layer.Inflammation involving the peritoneal layer led to ascites and pus accumulation in the abdominal cavity,and appendix involvement led to extraserous suppurative inflammation.In clinical practice,surgeons need to consider the results of various laboratory tests and imaging examinations to make comprehensive judgments involving the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of persistent or recurrent hemospermia： a single- institution experience

The diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia presents significant difficulty, especially if it persists or recurs. In this retrospective study, we assessed whether transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy is feasible and effective in the diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia. To address this complex condition, we report our experience in a population of patients treated with transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy. From February 2006 to July 2008, 72 hemospermic patients underwent transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy examination and treatment at our urology center. Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy was performed by a 7-F or 8-F rigid ureteroscope. The endoscopic procedure was conducted through the normal anatomic route of the seminal tracts. In this series, the mean follow-up period was 21.7 months. Definite diagnosis was made for 93.1% patients, and 94.4% patients were cured or showed a decrease in their symptoms. Postoperative complications were not observed in the study. Our study proves that transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy is effective in the diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia with minimal complication.

Function of seminal vesicles and their role on male fertility

The present review has been designed to update the recent developments on the function of seminal vesicles andtheir role on male fertility. It is indicated that the true corrected fructose level is a simple method for the assessment ofthe seminal vesicular function. Measurement of seminal fructose used universally as a marker of the seminal vesiclefunction is not an appropriate approach due to its inverse relationship with the sperm count. The true corrected fructosedefined as [log. motile sperm concentration] multiplied by [seminal fructose concentration] has been shown to be abetter marker of the seminal vesicle function. Seminal vesicular secretion is important for semen coagulation, sperm motility, and stability of sperm chromatinand suppression of the immune activity in the female reproductive tract. In conclusion, the function of seminal vesicle is important for fertility. Parameters as sperm motility, sperm chro-matin stability, and immuno-protection may be changed in case of its hypofunction. (Asian J Androl 2001 Dec; 3:251 -258)

Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone level correlates with semen parameters but does not predict success of testicular sperm extraction （TESE）

Aim： To assess seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH） level relationships in fertile and infertile males. Methods： Eighty-four male cases were studied and divided into four groups： fertile normozoospermia （n = 16）, oligoastheno- teratozoospermia （n = 15）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） （n = 13） and non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA） （n = 40）. Conventional semen analysis was done for all cases. Testicular biopsy was done with histopathology and fresh tissue examination for testicular sperm extraction （TESE） in NOA cases. NOA group was subdivided according to TESE results into unsuccessful TESE （n = 19） and successful TESE （n = 21）. Seminal plasma AMH was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and serum follicular stimulating hormone （FSH） was estimated in NOA cases only by radioimmunoassay （RIA）. Results： Mean seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile group than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with significance （41.5±10.9 pmol/L vs. 30.5±10.3 pmol/L, P 〈 0.05）. Seminal AMH was not detected in any OA patients. Seminal AMH wascorrelated positively with testicular volume （r = 0.329, P = 0.005）, sperm count （r = 0.483, P = 0.007）, sperm motility percent （r = 0.419, P = 0.021） and negatively with sperm abnormal forms percent （r = -0.413, p = 0.023）. Nonsignificant correlation was evident with age （r = -0.155, P = 0.414） and plasma FSH （ r = -0.014, P = 0.943）. In NOA cases, seminal AMH was detectable in 23/40 cases, 14 of them were successful TESE （57.5%） and was undetectable in 17/40 cases, 10 of them were unsuccessful TESE （58.2%）. Conclusion： Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases.

Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia patients reveals proteins that affect oxidative stress responses and semen quality

Asthenozoospermia （AS） is a common cause of human male infertility. In one study, more than 80% of the samples from infertile men had reduced sperm motility. Seminal plasma is a mixture of secretions from the testis, epididymis and several male accessory glands, including the prostate, seminal vesicles and Cowper＇s gland. Studies have shown that seminal plasma contains proteins that are important for sperm motility. To further explore the pathophysiological character of AS, we separated the seminal plasma proteins from AS patients and healthy donors using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in-gel digestion, and then subjected the proteins to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） analysis. A total of 741 proteins were identified in the seminal plasma, with a false discovery rate of 3.3%. Using spectral counting, we found that 45 proteins were threefold upregulated and 56 proteins were threefold downregulated in the AS group when compared with the control. Most of these proteins originated from the epididymis and prostate. This study identified a rich source of biomarker candidates for male infertility and indicates that functional abnormalities of the epididymis and prostate can contribute to AS. We identified D J-1--a protein that has been shown elsewhere to be involved in the control of oxidative stress （OS）-as a downregulated protein in AS seminal plasma. The levels of D J-1 in AS seminal plasma were about half of those in the control samples. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species were 3.3-fold higher in the AS samples than in the controls. Taken together, these data suggest that downregulation of DJ-1 is involved in OS in semen, and therefore affects the quality of the semen.

Seminal vesicles and diabetic neuropathy： ultrasound evaluation in patients with couple infertility and different levels of glycaemic control

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound characteristics of the seminal vesicles （SVs） of infertile patients with diabetes mellitus （DM） and diabetic neuropathy （DN） and to investigate possible changes in ultrasound characteristics related to glycaemic control. To accomplish this, 45 infertile patients with type 2 DM and symptomatic DN were selected. Twenty healthy fertile men and 20 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia without DM represented the control groups. DM patients were arbitrarily divided into three groups according to glycaemic control level （A=glycosylated haemoglobin 〈7%; B =glycosylated haemoglobin between 7% and 10%; C=glycosylated haemoglobin 〉 10%）. Patients underwent prostate-vesicular transrectal ultrasonography and sperm analysis. The following SV ultrasound parameters were recorded： （i） body antero-posterior diameter （APD）; （ii） fundus APD; （iii） parietal thicknesses of the right and left SVs; and （iv） the number of polycyclic areas within both SVs. We then calculated the following parameters： （i） fundus/body （F/B） ratio; （ii） difference of the parietal thickness between the right and the left SV; and （iii） pre- and post-ejaculatory APD difference. All DM patients had a higher FIB ratio compared to controls （P〈0.05）. Group C had a higher FIB ratio compared to the other DM groups （P〈0.05）. All DM patients had a lower pre- and post-ejaculatory difference of the body SV APD compared to controls （P〈0.05）. Groups A and B had a similar pre- and post-ejaculatory difference of the body SV APD, whereas this difference was lower in Group C （P〈0.05）. In conclusion, infertile DM patients with DN showed peculiar SV ultrasound features suggestive of functional atony, and low glycaemic control was associated with greater expression of these features.

Seminal characteristics and sexual behavior in men of different age groups： is there an aging effect？

Aim： To assess the seminal characteristics as well as the sexual behavior of men of various age groups to establish the presence of an aging effect on those characteristics. Methods： Semen samples were collected from men （n = 792） undergoing in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination in cases of female factor infertility only. Samples were collected using a seminal collection device at intercourse and evaluated manually according to World Health Organization （WHO） standards. Men were divided into four groups according to their ages： （i） 20-30, （ii） 31-40, （iii） 41-50 and （iv） 51-60 years, and their seminal characteristics and responses to a sexual behavior questionnaire were compared. Results： The data showed statistically significant differences in the seminal characteristics tested, most notably in the sperm concentration, motility, grade of motility, hypo-osmotic swelling and normal sperm morphology. Furthermore, the decline in normal sperm morphology with age was more pronounced when using strict criteria rather than WHO standards. There were also differences in total sperm count, total motile sperm and total functional sperm fraction （assessed by both WHO and strict criteria）. Significant differences were also observed in the sexual behavior patterns in older men in terms of the number of years they have been trying to conceive, sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction. Conclusion： The data clearly illustrate an aging effect on semen characteristics and sexual behavior in men as they age. It is suggested that the aging effect be taken into consideration when proposing normal standard values for semen characteristics in routine semen analysis as outlined by WHO standards.

Congenital agenesis of seminal vesicle

Congenital agenesis of the seminal vesicle （CASV） is frequently associated with congenital absence of the vas deferens （CAVD） or ipsilateral congenital vasoureteral communication. We reported two cases of a rare condition that the vas deferens open ectopically into Mullerian duct cyst associated with agenesis of the ipsilateral seminal vesicle. The diagnosis was confirmed by vasography. Transurethral unroofing of the Mullerian duct cyst was performed in both patients with favourable results, however, assisted reproductive technology （ART） was still necessary for them to father children.

The performance of transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of seminal vesicle defects： a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging

Obstructive azoospermia （OA） is one of the most common causes of male infertility. Transrectal ultrasound （TRUS） has been used to diagnose OA for many years. From 2009 to 2013, we evaluated a prospective cohort of 1249 patients with suspected OA using TRUS. It was found that dilation of the ejaculatory duct （ED） （29.9%, 374/1249） was the most common cause of OA, followed by seminal vesicle （SV） abnormalities （28.5%, 356/1249）. A total of 237 patients were diagnosed with congenital defects （agenesis and/or hypoplasia） of the SV, constituting more than half of the cases of SV disease in OA （19.0%, 237/1249）. In contrast to ED, congenital defects of the SV could not be corrected with surgical treatment. Therefore, it is meaningful to compare TRUS and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） for accurate diagnosis of SV defects. Among our patients, 30 with agenesis or/and hypoplasia of the SV on TRUS were further evaluated using pelvic MRI within 2 years, with the objective of verifying the TRUS results. The concordance rate for diagnosing congenital defects of the SV was 73.3% （22/30）. We concluded that TRUS is a reliable and convenient method for diagnosing agenesis or hypoplasia of the SV in OA patients with a high concordance with MRI while MRI is useful in patients with inconclusive TRUS findings.

Quick recovery and characterization of cell-free DNA in seminal plasma of normozoospermia and azoospermia： implications for non-invasive genetic utilities

We established a quick and reliable method for recovering cell-free seminal DNA （cfsDNA）, by using the binding-washing-elution procedure on the DNA purification column. Low variations （below 15%） among the triplicate values of cfsDNA quantity verified the reproducibility of our cfsDNA recovery method. Similar cfsDNA yield and size distribution between seminal plasma acquired by filtration and centrifugation confirmed the presence of cfsDNA. To investigate the general characterization of cfsDNA, the quantitation and size distribution of cfsDNA from normozoospermic and azoospermic semen were analyzed by real-time PCR and electrophoresis, respectively. CfsDNA concentration in semen with normozoospermia （n = 11） was 1.34 ± 0.65 μg ·mL^-1, whereas a higher cfsDNA concentration was observed in azoospermia （2.56 ± 1.43 μg ·mL^-1, n = 9）. The continuous distribution of DNA fragments ranging from -1 kb to 15 kb and a spectrum of multiples of 180-bp fragments were observed in each normozoospermic and azoospermic sample. Distinct characteristic DNA ladder fragmentations in some azoospermic samples implicated that cfsDNA originate partly from apoptotic cells. CfsDNAs of 36 selected azoospermic patients with known information of Y chromosome microdeletion were subjected to the same microdeletion analysis by multiplex PCR and PCR amplification of sY114 （1 450 bp）. All multiplex PCR reactions with cfsDNA amplified successfully and provided the same result as leukocyte DNA. PCR amplification of sY114 gave a 1 450-bp amplicon as expected. Our data suggested the potential use of cfsDNA in search of biomarker or diagnostic procedures.

Beta-endorphin in serum and seminal plasma in infertile men

Aim： To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups. Methods： Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups： non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA）, congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBVAD） and asthenozoospermia. The results were compared to those of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men. Results： There was a decrease in the mean levels of betaendorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups （mean ± SD： NOA 51.30 ± 27.37, OA 51.88 ± 9.47, CBAVD 20.36 ± 13.39, asthenozoospermia 49.26 ± 12.49 pg/mL, respectively） compared to the normozoospermic fertile control （87.23 ± 29.55 pg/mL）. This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin between four infertile groups （51.09 ± 14.71, 49.76 ± 12.4, 33.96 ± 7.2, 69.1 ± 16.57 pg/mL, respectively） and the fertile control group （49.26 ± 31.32 pg/mL）. The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin. Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%. Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration （r = 0.699, P = 0.0188） and nonsignificant correlation with its serum level （r = 0.375, P = 0.185） or with the sperm motility percentage （r = 0.470, P = 0.899）. Conclusion： The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there are many other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.

Relationship between seminal plasma zinc concentration and spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction in subfertile men

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between seminal zinc concentration and spermatozoazona pellucida （ZP） binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction （ZPIAR） in subfertile men. Semen analyses and seminal zinc concentration assessments were carried out according to the World Health Organization manual for 458 subfertile men. A spermatozoa-ZP interaction test was carried out by incubating 2 × 10^6 motile spermatozoa with a group of four unfertilized oocytes obtained from a clinical in vitro fertilization programme. After 2 h of incubation, the number of spermatozoa bound per ZP and the ZPIAR of ZP-bound spermatozoa were examined. The effect of adding 0.5 mmol L^-1 zinc to the media on the ZPIAR of spermatozoa from normozoospermic men was also tested in vitro. Seminal zinc concentration positively correlated with sperm count and duration of abstinence, but negatively correlated with semen volume. On analysis of data from all participants, both spermatozoa-ZP binding and the ZPI- AR were significantly correlated with sperm motility and normal morphology, but not with seminal zinc concentration. However, in men with normozoospermic semen, the seminal zinc concentration was significantly higher in men with defective ZPIAR （ 〈 16%） than in those with normal ZPIAR （ ≥ 16% ） （P 〈 0.01）. The addition of 0.5 mmol L^-1 zinc to the culture media had no effect on spermatozoa-ZP binding, but significantly reduced the ZPIAR in vitro （P 〈 0. 001）. In conclusion, seminal zinc concentration is correlated with sperm count and the duration of abstinence in subfertile men. In men with normozoospermic semen, high seminal zinc concentration may have an adverse effect on the ZPIAR.

Alterations of seminal and hormonal parameters:An extrahepatic manifestation of HCV infection?

AIM： To evaluate the possible influences of HCV infection and relative antiviral treatment on seminal parameters and reproductive hormonal serum levels. METHODS： Ten male patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis and 16 healthy male volunteers were studied. In all subjects seminal parameters （nemaspermic concentration, progressive motility, morphology） and hormonal levels were determined. Seminal parameters and inhibin B, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total and free testosterone, estradiol, prolactine in patients were measured after six and twelve months of antiviral combined （interferon ± ribavirin） treatment. RESULTS： Patients before treatment showed a significantly lower nemaspermic motility and morphology as well as lower inhibin B and free testosterone levels than controls. Inhibin B levels in cases were improved six and 12 mo after treatment in five responders （161.9 ± 52.8 pg/mL versus 101.7 ± 47.0 pg/mL and 143.4 ± 46.1 pg/ mL versus 95.4 ± 55.6 pg/mL, respectively）. Hormonal pattern of patients did not significantly change after treatment, with the exception of estradiol levels with an initial reduction and an overall subsequent increment （19.7 ± 6.4 pg/mL versus 13.6 ± 5.0 pg/mL versus 17.3 ± 5.7 pg/mL）. However in 1-year responders a significant increment of free testosterone （14.2 ± 2.54 pg/mL versus 17.1 ± 2.58 pg/mL） occurred. An impairment of nemaspermic morphology occurred, while other seminal parameters did not change significantly during antiviral treatment. CONCLUSION： Patients with HCV infection show worse spermatic parameters than controls, suggesting a possible negative influence of virus on spermatogenesis, with further mild impairment during antiviral treatment. However therapy could improve the spermatic function, as suggested by the increased inhibin B levels and improved hormonal pattern in responders. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary intriguing results.

Laparoscopic treatment of a calcium fluorophosphate stone within a seminal vesicle cyst

Stones in the seminal vesicles are extremely rare. We present a 62-year-old patient with a stone within a seminal vesicle cyst, who was cured by laparoscopic treatment. The operative time was 80 rnin, and the estimated blood loss was 90 mL. Scanning electron microscope examination of the stone showed a compact crystal image externally and sparse spherical crystal structure in kernel. Composition of the stone was calcium fluorophosphate on X-ray diffractometer. The follow-up time was 15 months with no recurrence of cyst or stone. To our knowledge, this case is the first to describe laparoscopic removal of a stone within a seminal vesicle cyst, and the first to describe calcium fluorophosphate as the composition of seminal vesicle stones. （Asian JAndro12008 Mar; 10： 337-340）

Evaluation of deoxyribonuclease activity in seminal plasmaof ejaculated chicken semen

Aim: To confirm the stability of exogenous genes in the generation of transgenic chickens using ejaculated chicken sperm, the deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity was evaluated in the seminal plasma of ejaculated semen and the stability of DNA was examined by adding lipofection reagents. Methods: A PCR fragment (249 bp) of pEGFPN-1 vector was used as the DNA substrate and was incubated with the seminal plasma at 40 ℃ for 30 min. Then, the whole reaction solution was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and the DNA size was evaluated under UV light. Results: The DNA substrate was completely diminished after incubation with seminal plasma. However, the substrate was intact after incubation with heat-treated seminal plasma or incubation with seminal plasma in the presence of 0.5 mmol/L -5 mmol/L EDTA. The substrate was stabilized in the seminal plasma by the addition of commercially available lipofection reagents. Conclusion: The DNase activity is present in the seminal plasma of ejaculated chicken semen. However, DNA is stable in the liposomal-DNA complex.

Profiling of seminal antioxidant indices and sperm quality in Plasmodium bergheiinduced malarial mice treated with Phyllanthus amarus

Objective:To evaluate the antiplasmodial activity of Phyllanthus(P.)amarus crude ethanol leaf extract and its effects on semen quality in male BALB/c mice.Methods:A total of 36 adult mice were divided into six groups,with 6 mice each.Five groups were infected with Plasmodium(P.)berghei,and one group was left uninfeceted.Of the five infected groups,one group was left untreated,three groups were treated with varying doses(100,250 and 400 mg/kg)of P.amarus crude ethanol leaf extract orally for 4 days,and another group was treated with standard drug,artemether and lumefantrine(Lonart®DS).Antiplasmodial activity,seminal quality,some biochemical indices(neutral毩-glucosidase,fructose,and citric acid)in seminal plasma and seminal antioxidant markers(catalase,glutathione peroxidase,reduced glutathione,malondialdehyde,total antioxidant capacity,and acid phosphates)were determined.The mice were euthanized 3 days post treatment and semen was collected from the caudal epididymis and processed for analysis using documented methods and procedures.Results:Malarial infection led to oxidative stress,causing a significant decline in seminal quality(P<0.05).However,treatment with P.amarus crude ethanol leaf extract alleviated oxidative stress and significantly improved seminal quality.The improvement was dose-dependent and compared well with the standard drug,artemether and lumefantrine(Lonart®DS)treatment.Conclusions:The ethanol leaf extracts of P.amarus alleviate male reproductive capacity during malaria infection in murine model by enhancing antioxidant activities.

Oxytocin in pig seminal plasma is positively related with in vivo fertility of inseminated sows

Background:Identification of relevant in vivo biomarkers for fertility remains a challenge for the livestock industry.Concentrations of the small peptide hormone oxytocin(OXT),involved in male reproductive function and present in the seminal plasma(SP)of several species could be a robust one.This study characterized concentrations of SPOXT in ejaculates from boars used in artificial insemination(AI)programs aiming to evaluate its relationship with sperm quality variables and in vivo fertility of their liquid-stored AI-semen.Seminal OXT concentrations(ng/mL)were measured in 169 ejaculates from 61 boars of the Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White breeds using a direct competitive immunoassay test based on AlphaLISA®technology.Ejaculate(ejaculate volume,sperm concentration,total sperm count)and sperm parameters(motility,viability,intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species,plasma membrane fluidity)were assessed at 0 h and 72 h in AI-semen samples stored at 17℃.In vivo fertility included only 18 Large White and Landrace boars whose AI-semen was used to inseminated>100 sows and evaluated both farrowing rate and litter size of 3,167 sows.Results:The results showed that SP-OXT differed between boars and between ejaculates within boar(P<0.05)but not between breeds(Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White).Ejaculates with higher SP-OXT concentration/mL(hierarchically grouped;P<0.001)had larger volume and came from younger boars(P<0.05).Ejaculates of boars showing positive farrowing rate deviation exhibited higher(P<0.05)SP-OXT concentration/mL than those with negative farrowing rate deviation.Conclusion:The SP concentrations of OXT are boar,ejaculate and age dependent,and positively related with ejaculate volume and farrowing rates of liquid-stored semen AI-doses.

Sexual selection affects the sizes of the mammalian prostate gland and seminal vesicles

The accessory reproductive glands of male mammals contribute the bulk of the secretions in which spermatozoa are transported to the female tract during copulation. Despite their morphological diversity, and the chemical complexity of their products, little is known about the possible effects of sexual selection upon these glands in mammals. Here we consider the seminal vesicles and prostate glands in a sample of 89 species and 60 genera representing 8 Orders of mammals. The sizes of the accessory glands are analysed in relation to body weight and testes weight. Both the seminal vesicles size and prostate size （corrected for body weight） correlate positively with relative testes size in this sample; this finding remains highly significant after application of procedures to correct for possible phylogenetic biases in the data set. The accessory reproductive glands are also significantly larger in those mammals which have large relative testes sizes, and in which the likelihood of sperm competition is greatest. These results support the hypothesis that sexual selection has played an important role in the evolution of the mammalian prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

Rectoseminal vesicle fistula after radical surgery for rectal cancer:Four case reports and a literature review

BACKGROUND A rectoseminal vesicle fistula(RSVF)is a rare complication after anterior or low anterior proctectomy for rectal cancer mainly due to anastomotic leakage(AL).Limited literature documenting this rare complication is available.We report four such cases and review the literature to investigate the etiology,clinical manifestations,and the diagnostic and treatment methods of RSVF in order to provide greater insight into this disorder.CASE SUMMARY Four cases of RSVF were presented and summarized,and a further 12 cases selected from the literature were discussed.The main clinical symptoms in these patients were pneumaturia,fever,scrotal swelling and pain,anal pain,orchitis,diarrhea,dysuria,epididymitis and fecaluria.Imaging methods such as pelvic Xray,computed tomography(CT),sinus radiography,barium enema and other techniques confirmed the diagnosis.CT was the imaging modality of choice.In cases presenting with reduced levels of AL,minimal surrounding inflammation,and controlled infection,the RSVF was conservatively treated by urethral catheterization,antibiotics administration and parenteral nutrition.In cases of severe RSVF,incision and drainage of the abscess or fistula and urinary or fecal diversion surgery successfully resolved the fistula.CONCLUSION This study provides an extensive analysis of RSVF,and outlines,summarizes and examines the causes,clinical manifestations,diagnostic procedures and treatment options,in order to prevent misdiagnosis and treatment errors.