Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT1420

Seminal phosphate concentrations are several folds higher than serum levels in healthy men, which implies an active phosphate transport within the male reproductive system. However, phosphate regulation in the male reproductive organs remains poorly understood. This study investigated the expression profiles of the sodium-phosphate co-transporters (NPT2a, NPT2c, NPT2b, PIT1, and PIT2) and phosphate regulation in the epididymis and prostate using rodent models and human tissues. In rodents, high dietary phosphate intake increased epididymal phosphate transporter expression without affecting epididymal phosphate levels. In contrast, prostatic phosphate concentrations increased with serum phosphate, independent of transporter expression. Human tissues exhibited distinct transporter expression profiles compared to rodents, warranting further investigation. A retrospective analysis of 301 healthy men further demonstrated that high seminal phosphate levels correlated with improved sperm quality and elevated testosterone levels. In conclusion, this study revealed distinct expression profiles of phosphate transporters in the male reproductive organs, with species-specific differences between mice and humans. These findings highlight the distinct phosphate regulation in the epididymis and prostate, underscoring the critical role of phosphate in male reproductive health, particularly its association with sperm quality and testosterone levels. Together, these results provide novel insights into phosphate metabolism in male reproductive function and suggest presence of potential therapeutic targets for addressing male infertility.