Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

VESICULAR GLANDS

• Vesicular glands or seminal vesicle.
• Paired accessory sex gland located in the floor of the pelvis, dorsal and lateral to the ampulla or neck of the bladder.
• The seminal vesicle is the site for production of fructose and citric acid. The fructose is the main source of nutrition /energy for the spermatozoan motility.
• Final volume of semen is related to the quantity of secretion of seminal vesicle.

• Vesicular glands are lobulated-paired organs that lie in the pelvis.
• Vesicular gland adenitis (Vesiculitis) one of the most common pathological conditions, often found in young and very old bulls.
• Vesiculitis is usually diagnosed by palpation changes in gland size, shape and consistency.
• Vesiculitis characterized by enlargement, induration and loss of lobulation and is often associated with decreased semen quality.

Decreased semen quality and pus in the ejaculate usually associated with infection of seminal vesicle.

• If a physical examination is not done, the first indication of vesiculitis may be the presence of leukocytes in the semen.
• Findings of rectal examination should be correlated with the presence of increased numbers of leukocytes in the semen to verify the diagnosis.
• Inflammed vesicular glands usually indicate inflammation of other sex organs as well.
• Fairly common sequelae to vesiculitis are periorchitis, orchitis, epididymitis and ampullitis.
• Otherwise normal bulls with vesiculitis should be classified as questionable and the course of the disease monitored by repeated examinations.

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