Effects of oxytocin on sperm transport in the pubertal rat
Open accessAbstract
Oxytocin is present in the mammalian testis where it increases contractility of seminiferous tubules in vitro and has been implicated in sperm transport. The present study investigated whether oxytocin affects the transport of spermatozoa from the testis in vivo. In rats, mature spermatozoa are first seen in the testis 42 days postpartum and arrive in the epididymis at about day 45. Male Wistar rats were given daily subcutaneous injections of either oxytocin (0.5 micrograms), the oxytocin antagonist des Gly-NH2d(CH2)5-[D-Tyr2,Thr4]OVT (0.2 micrograms) or saline from day 40 postpartum. Groups of six animals were killed 2 h after their last injection on days 43, 44, 45 and 46 postpartum. Testes were removed and fixed in Bouin's fluid for histological examination and the number of spermatozoa in the epididymides was counted. Spermatozoa were seen in the epididymis earlier in the oxytocin-treated rats (day 43) than in the control animals (day 44), and treatment with the antagonist delayed the appearance of spermatozoa in the epididymis until day 45. When the testes were examined, residual bodies, which were used as an indicator of spermiation, were seen only in one control animal before day 44. Residual bodies were seen in the testes of all oxytocin-treated rats on day 43 but were not detected until day 45 in the oxytocin antagonist-treated rats. These data show that in rats oxytocin can affect the arrival of spermatozoa in the epididymis. Although this may be due in part to effects on tubal transport or the secretion of tubular fluid, these findings suggest that the peptide may affect spermiation.
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Oxytocin has peripheral effects on parturition and lactation.
“Oxytocin is a mammalian neurohormone composed of nine amino acids, known for its peripheral effects on parturition and lactation (5–7), as well as its central neuromodulatory effects on social behaviors such as affiliative, aggressive, and parental behaviors (8, 9).”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [7]
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Epididymal oxytocin in the rat: its origin and regulation
Harris, G., & Frayne, J. (1996) · Bristol Research (University of Bristol)
- Authors
- Frayne, J., Townsend, D., & Nicholson, H. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- ORCID
- Frayne, J
- Venue
- Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1996-07-01
- Volume
- 107
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 299-306
- ISSN
- 1470-1626 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-7899
- OpenAlex
- W2082181186
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Reproduction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
- Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, sperm transport, epididymis, spermiation, pubertal rats, testis, oxytocin antagonist, residual bodies
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Epididymis, Male, Oxytocin, Sexual Maturation, Sperm Count, Sperm Transport, Rats, Wistar, Rats
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