Effect of tobacco consumption on the function of male accessory sex glands

The function of accessory sex glands in 29 tobacco smokers, 25 tobacco chewers and 30 non-users of tobacco was investigated by determining the ejaculate contents of various glandular markers: N-acetyl amino sugar and total phosphate (seminal vesicles) zinc and acid phosphatase (prostate gland), and alpha-1,4-glucosidase (epididymis). Both vesicular and prostatic parameters were reduced significantly in smokers compared with non-users of tobacco, whereas these parameters were unchanged in tobacco chewers. This difference may be due either to the difference in constitution of xenobiotics emitted as a result of burning tobacco, or to differences in the pharmacokinetics of the two forms of tobacco consumption. The activity of alpha-1,4-glucosidase was significantly lowered in both types of tobacco users. It is concluded that use of tobacco, especially by smoking, impairs the secretory function of accessory sex glands in man.