Porcine vas deferens luminal pH is acutely increased by systemic xylazine administration.

Data are accumulating to demonstrate that pH regulation in the male reproductive tract has a vital role in modulating sperm cell fertilizing capacity, and therefore male fertility. Bicarbonate uptake by sperm cells is required for the achievement of motility levels required for fertilization. Vas deferens epithelial cells can carry out measurable bicarbonate secretion, but the available literature to date reports that the vas deferens luminal content is typically acidic.

Testosterone upregulates anion secretion across porcine vas deferens epithelia in vitro.

Testosterone induces and maintains prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, also known as cyclooxygenase 2) expression in vas deferens epithelial cells, but it remains unknown whether this has a physiological role in the context of male reproductive biology. Prostaglandins induce concentration-dependent increases in anion secretion in porcine vas deferens epithelial cell (1 degrees PVD) monolayers, where bicarbonate contributes to cAMP-stimulated anion secretion. Moreover, bradykinin induces anion secretion across 1 degrees PVD monolayers that is indomethacin sensitive, and both PTGS2 and PTGS1 are expressed in this model system.