AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 265, Issue 4 743-R748, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society
Control of bilateral seminal emissions from ejaculatory ducts by a lumbar splanchnic nerve
K. Kihara, K. Sato, M. Ando, T. Morita and H. Oshima
Department of Urology, School of Medicine and School of Allied Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
To investigate the route of efferent signals for seminal emissions from
ejaculatory ducts (SEEDs), canine lumbar splanchnic nerves (LSNs) were
electrically stimulated. SEED was confirmed by visual verification of
seminal flow into the exposed posterior urethra. In intact dogs, electrical
stimulation of an LSN caused bilateral SEEDs in 13 of 16 dogs examined,
with a greater volume at the stimulated side. After transection of a
unilateral hypogastric nerve, bilateral SEEDs occurred by electrical
stimulation of the contralateral LSN in 11 of 14 dogs with a greater volume
at the stimulated side and by the stimulation of the ipsilateral LSN in 13
of 15 dogs with a greater volume at the contralateral side. Contraction
pressure of the epididymal tail under the same conditions harmonized with
the above results. We conclude that each LSN generates bilateral SEEDs by
sending signals to bilateral epididymal tails and that some of the signals
through each LSN cross to the other side at the caudal mesenteric plexus
and/or the prostatic plexus.
