Human Male Reproductive Cells — Recent Studies and Background

Human Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system includes external organs such as the penis and scrotum and internal organs such as the epididymis, vas deferens, and accessory glands (seminal vesicles, prostate glands, and bulbourethral glands).

The epididymis is a coiled structure that stores sperm and allows sperm to mature before they travel to the sperm duct, which is called the vas deferens. The seminal vesicles are attached to the vas deferens and produce a viscous liquid that acts as an energy-source for sperm and aids in their mobility. The other accessory glands also generate fluids that preserve and nourish sperm and lubricate the prostatic ducts.

Published Studies Using Lifeline® Male Reproductive Products

Patki et al. identified a transcription factor that plays a key role in promoting aberrant androgen receptor (AR) signaling in prostate cancer cells. They found that ELK1 was necessary for AR-dependent growth, and that a direct interaction between AR and ELK1 activated a group of genes involved in cellular growth. Lifeline’s normal prostate epithelial cells were used as control cells for this study. Their results suggest that disrupting the AR-ELK1 interaction in prostate cancer cells could be a promising “tumor-selective drug target.”

Chaiswing et al. analyzed the redox state profiles of human prostate cancer cells and discovered that discordant antioxidant protein levels and enzymatic activities contribute to an imbalance in redox states during human prostate cancer progression. They used Lifeline® normal human prostate epithelial cells and ProstaLife™ culture medium to provide a model of normal prostate epithelial cells to compare against their various prostate cancer cell models. Understanding the redox state profiles in different cancers will be important for predicting how each cancer will respond to chemotherapies and radiation.

Lifeline® Normal Human Male Reproductive Cells and Culture Media

 Lifeline offers a suite of normal human male reproductive cells and culture media, including:

• Prostate Epithelial Cells (see our recent blog post on prostate cells)
• Vas Deferens Fibroblasts
• Seminal Vesicle Epithelial Cells

• ProstaLife™ Cell Culture Media Complete Kit (serum free): for Seminal Vesicle and Prostate Epithelial Cells
• FibroLife® S2 Cell Culture Media Complete Kit (low serum – 2%): for Vas Deferens Fibroblasts

 All of our normal human male reproductive cells are cryopreserved as secondary cells to ensure the highest viability, purity, and plating efficiency. Both ProstaLife™ and FibroLife® S2 mediums are tailor made to provide optimal culture conditions for at least 15 population doublings.

Lifeline® Male Reproductive Cell Systems can be used for the following studies:

• Normal control cells for cancer studies
• Normal male reproductive biology: androgen receptors, prostate cell proliferation, seminal vesicle secretory proteins
• Diseases of the male reproductive system: fibrosis of the vas deferens, male urogenital diseases, inflammation, cancer
• Toxicity and drug discovery studies

What studies are you doing?

Are you working with any of our human male reproductive products? If so, please comment below this post about your latest discoveries using our products!