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THE IMPORTANCE OF SHORT ADRENERGIC NEURONS IN THE SEMINAL EMISSION MECHANISM OF RAT, GUINEA-PIG AND MAN

Summary.: The trigonum area of the bladder—including the bladder neck and the proximal urethra—of rats and guinea-pigs contains large amounts of noradrenaline. This is consistent with a rich adrenergic innervation of the smooth musculature, particularly in the internal sphincter of the bladder. The innervation is not reduced by hypogastric denervation, indicating that it originates from peripheral ganglia (i.e. short adrenergic neurons). Stimulation of the hypogastric nerves produces seminal emission into the proximal urethra. After hypogastric denervation, there is a seminal reflux into the bladder whether copulation has occurred or not.

Extensive presacral operative dissection in male patients usually results in seminal reflux into the bladder. The excised tissues often contain adrenergic ganglion formations, probably identical with the short adrenergic neurons.

It is suggested that removal of these ganglia, or their more proximal sympathetic input, results in permanent motor deficiency of the smooth musculature in the structures engaged in the emission mechanism, including the bladder neck. This results in a continuous seminal reflux into the bladder (whether coitus occurs or not) due to a continuous slow transport of seminal fluid through the vas deferens as a consequence of persisting segmental contraction and continuous secretion from the accessory genital glands.