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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effects of norepinephrine, phentalamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, several prostaglandins, and indomethacin on the spontaneous motility of isolated guinea pig cauda epididymidis were explored. Phentolamine and indomethacin reduced the isometric peak tension of spontaneous epididymal contractions. Phentolamine also depressed the frequency. Both findings suggest that catecholamines and endogenous prostaglandins are in some way regulators of the spontaneous motility of the cauda epididymidis. Norepinephrine resulted in the development of a distinct, sustained, tonic contraction without phasic activity, whereas prostaglandins E1, E2, and F2 alpha elicited a tonic increase accompanied by frequent, superimposed, phasic contractions. Both oxytocin and vasopressin comparably enhanced epididymal motility, producing contractile responses similar to those observed with prostaglandins. Since the epididymal contractions can influence the time spent by spermatozoa in passing through the ductus epididymidis, the above-mentioned compounds could play an important role in spermatozoal transport via modulation of epididymal contractile activity. In addition, such naturally occurring substances might regulate the release of sperm from the last portion of the epididymis into the ductus deferens.
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PMID:Physiologic and pharmacologic studies on the motility of isolated guinea pig cauda epididymidis. 80 41

An attempt was made to determine the importance of neurohypophyseal hormones for the emission of semen in rabbits. Arginine-vasopressin was used in a lower dose than by previous investigators. An analogue, de-amino-oxytocin (ODA 914) was included. Besides these peptides, arginine-v asotocin, the antidiuretic hormone in birds, was also used. This substance has been shown to be present in the pineal gland of the human fetus and may have a physiological function in animals. Teaser doe rabbits were ovariectomized 4 weeks before being used. 3 days before the experiments they were given 60 mcg of estradiol benzoate in arachis oil by sc injection. These injections were repeated every 3rd day during the experiments. Males, in 4 groups, received 1 of the hormones or saline iv every 2nd day until 15 injections had been given. About 30 seconds after each injection, a teaser doe rabbit was introduced and a sample of semen collected. The latency period from the time of introduction to the 1st ejaculation was timed with a stopwatch. Volume of ejaculate was measured and spermatozoa counted. The peptides injected had no effect on ejaculate volume. However, in those injected with vasotocin some difference was noted (p less than .05). Latency time was similar in all. Variations between individuals in ejaculate characteristics approached variations in differently treated rabbits. The number of spermatozoa was significantly increased only by arginine-vasopressin (p less than .05) for the 1st ejaculate. This is thought to be due to a conditioned response with release of neurohypophyseal hormones. It is concluded that vasopressin is the neurohypophyseal hormone which stimulates the release of spermatozoa in rabbits. The release of oxytocin during coitus may have other functions affecting male fertility.
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PMID:Neurophpophysial hormones and the emission of semen in rabbits. 120 23

The effect of oxytocin on sperm motility of bull spermatozoa was investigated over a period of 2.5 hours. Measurements were carried out with a Lazymot apparatus, depending on the Laser-Doppler principle. In a concentration of 10 IU/ml, oxytocin was found to significantly increase the percentage of motile spermatozoa and sperm velocity compared with saline controls.
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PMID:The action of oxytocin on sperm motility. In vitro experiments with bull spermatozoa. 262 44

We evaluated effects of three concentrations of phenylephrine, ergonovine, oxytocin and norepinephrine (myometrial stimulants) on viability of spermatozoa when they were included in a seminal extender. Using a split ejaculate technique, ejaculates from each of 10 bulls were extended in egg-yolk citrate to a final concentration of 35 x 10(6) sperm/ml, including 20 mg/ml, 2 mg/ml and .2 mg/ml, of phenylephrine or ergonovine, 20 IU/ml, 2 IU/ml and .2 IU/ml oxytocin or 200 micrograms/ml, 20 micrograms/ml and 2 micrograms/ml norepinephrine prior to freezing. Extended semen without a myometrial stimulant served as the control. Percentage of intact acrosomes was determined prior to freezing for all treatments. Motility and percentage of intact acrosomes were determined immediately after thawing (0 h) and again after 4 h incubation at 37 degrees C. Percentage of intact acrosomes was reduced (P less than .05) prior to freezing by phenylephrine (20 mg/ml) and ergonovine (20 mg/ml) (phenylephrine = 56%; ergonovine = 63%; control = 74%). The same doses of phenylephrine and ergonovine reduced (P less than .05) post-thaw motility and percentage of intact acrosomes at both 0 and 4 h compared with controls. Sperm exposed even to the intermediate concentration (2 mg/ml) of ergonovine had lower (P less than .05) motility 4 h post-thaw. No other compound or concentration of compound or concentration of compound affected percentage of intact acrosome or motility. There were no two or three-way bull x compound and concentration interactions (P greater than .2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Effect of phenylephrine, ergonovine, oxytocin and norepinephrine as an extender ingredient on viability of bovine spermatozoa. 276 16

The 12- to 24-month-old Holstein bulls were electroejaculated twice on each of 3 days per week throughout the study. After a 2-week stabilization period and subsequent 2-week pre-treatment period, 7 bulls were given 50 i.u. oxytocin via the jugular vein 10 min before each first ejaculate for 10 weeks. The 7 control bulls were handled identically but did not receive oxytocin. All bulls were castrated at the end of the study. Oxytocin was without effect on spermatogenesis (P greater than 0.10). Oxytocin did not alter the total number of spermatozoa harvested per collection day (P greater than 0.10), but increased the number of spermatozoa in first ejaculates by an average of 34.2% (P less than 0.025). Oxytocin did not affect sperm quality (P greater than 0.10) as judged by the motility of spermatozoa in fresh semen or by the motility or percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in thawed semen. It is concluded that 50 i.u. oxytocin enhanced sperm output in first ejaculates of electroejaculated bulls without altering daily sperm production or seminal quality.
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PMID:Spermatogenesis, sperm output and seminal quality of Holstein bulls electroejaculated after administration of oxytocin. 336 81

Experiments were conducted in the ewe to determine the effects of mating on the activity of the genital tract and on blood levels of oxytocin and cortisol. The activity of the uterus and cervix was recorded by electromyography, oxytocin was measured by radioimmunoassay, and cortisol by high performance liquid chromatography. Mating itself did not increase circulating oxytocin or cortisol; uterine motility remained unchanged during and after copulation but the cervix was significantly stimulated during teasing and after copulation. It is suggested that increased cervical activity resulting from adrenergic mechanisms may facilitate the generation of a cervical reserve of spermatozoa.
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PMID:Activity of the genital tract and plasma levels of oxytocin and cortisol at the time of mating in the ewe. 399 50

The mammalian testes have several mechanisms to propel the nonmotile spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules through the rete testis into the epididymis. These include (a) contractions of the testicular capsule and the seminiferous tubules and (b) fluid flow through the excurrent ducts resulting from active transport of fluids and electrolyte into the seminiferous tubules from the extracellular space. The efflux of fluids and sperm from the testis appears to closely parallel spermiation. An increased output of fluid may result from prostaglandins (PGF2 alpha) and possibly oxytocin (not all species respond to oxytocin) as a result of capsular contractions compressing and expelling the fluid from the tubules. Seminiferous tubular contractions do not result from nervous stimulation but are linked to PGs and cyclic nucleotide generation. They are regulated to some extent by androgens and the lesser response of the tubules to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone compared to testosterone can be explained by their interaction with androgen binding protein and their action on phospholipase A2 activity for PG synthesis.
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PMID:Contractility of seminiferous tubules as related to sperm transport in the male. 611 19

Acting in vivo, adrenalin and noradrenalin cause a statistically significant and permanent decrease in the motility of mouse spermatozoa remaining in the vas deferens. Intratesticular injection of vasopressin, oxytocin, insulin, and glucagon results in a decrease in spermatozoa motility in vas deferens, removal the spermatozoa to PBS in vitro, and an increase in percentage of motile spermatozoa on incubation medium. Thyroxine, calcytonin, and TRH did not affect motility of mouse spermatozoa in vivo.
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PMID:Effects of selected hormones on the motility of spermatozoa in the mouse vas deferens. 785 64

In an in vitro model, the number of mouse sperm cells migrating to wells containing adrenalin (0.001 mg/mL) and oxytocin (0.01 IU/mL) was significantly higher than the number migrating to control wells. This effect was interpreted as chemotaxis of spermatozoa. The presence of insulin in BWW medium decreased the concentration of spermatozoa in experimental migration in vitro.
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PMID:Chemotactic effect of hormones in mouse spermatozoa. 816 80

Peritubular myoid cells, surrounding the seminiferous tubules in the testis, have been found in all mammalian species, but their organization in the peritubular interstitial tissue varies by species. In laboratory rodents, including rats, hamsters and mice, only one layer of myoid cells is seen in the testis. The cells in these animals are joined by junctional complexes as are epithelial cells. On the other hand, several cellular layers exist in the lamina propria of the seminiferous tubule in the human and some other animals. Myoid cells contain abundant actin filaments which are distributed in the cells in a species-specific manner. In the rat, the filaments within one myoid cell run both longitudinally and circularly to the long axis of the seminiferous tubule, exhibiting a lattice-work pattern. The arrangement of the actin filaments in the cells changes during postnatal development, and the disruption of spermatogenesis, such as cryptorchidism, seems to affect further the arrangement of the filaments. Other cytoskeletal proteins, including myosin, desmin/vimentin and alpha-actinin, are also found in the cells. Myoid cells have been shown to be contractile, involved in the transport of spermatozoa and testicular fluid in the tubule. Several substances (prostaglandins, oxytocin, TGF beta, NO/cGMP) have been suggested to affect the contraction of the cell, though the mechanisms of the contraction are still unknown. Recent in vitro studies have demonstrated that the cells secrete a number of substances including extracellular matrix components (fibronectin, type I and IV collagens, proteoglycans) and growth factors (PModS, TGF beta, IGF-I, activin-A). Some of these substances are known to affect the Sertoli cell function. Furthermore, it has been reported that myoid cells contain androgen receptors and are involved in retinol processing. Considering all this, it is evident that peritubular myoid cells not only provide structural integrity to the tubule but also take part in the regulation of spermatogenesis and the testicular function. Their precise roles, however, remain to be solved.
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PMID:Peritubular myoid cells in the testis: their structure and function. 872 59


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