AN UPDATE ON COAGULATING GLAND RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN-PROSTAGLANDIN SYSTEM: A NEW HYPOTHESIS ON ITS RENIN FUNCTION

After proper description of reproductive functions of rodent anterior prostate, coagulating gland (CG), by Moore and Gallagher in 1930, numerous papers have been published on this gland and its function in male fertility. It has also been known that it has a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS). But, the actual function of this system is not very clear, and even now-a-days, this gland is getting ignored in reproductive physiology research. Thus, this review article attempts to unearth the reproductive functions of this gland, with a hypothetical mechanism of CG renin function. We have reviewed the available literature published on this gland and correlated the fragmented information to unveil its importance. We have proposed a hypothetical mechanism (aided by self-designed schemes) of CG renin function along with its functional and structural aspects in reproductive physiology. Despite being ignored in modern research, CG has a very significant function in rodent reproduction and breeding. It has also a very significant role in regulation of local homeostasis by renin-angiotensin-prostaglandin system.Key words:laboratory rat; mice; accessory sex organs; coagulating gland; renin