The close proximity between the human rectum and prostate: a functional-anatomic arrangement favoring prostate health

1.1 A brief overview of the anatomy and function of the human prostate

The human prostate is a pyramid-like gland, located beneath the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum [1, 2]. Geometrically speaking, the apex of the prostate contacts the urethra, it’s base abuts the bladder and the prostate peripheral side remains adjacent to the anterior rectal wall [1, 3, 4]. According to McNeil’s zonal anatomy scheme of the human prostate, derived from a large number of cadaver specimens, the gland is divided into an anterior fibromuscular stroma and three glandular zones [5]. The latter include: the central zone (25% of the glandular prostate tissue) surrounding the ejaculatory ducts, the transition zone (about 5% of the glandular prostate tissue) surrounding the urethra, and the peripheral zone surrounding both. This constitutes over 70% of the glandular prostate [1, 5, 6]. The transition zone is the site where benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develops, while almost all prostate cancers arise in the peripheral zone [2, 5, 6]. Denonvilliers’ fascia, medially fused with the fibromuscular stroma of the prostate, forms a barrier between prostate and rectum [4]. The epithelium of the human prostate gland is composed of acini (with an undulating to papillary appearance) and ducts lined by luminal, basal and neuroendocrine cells. The specialized luminal cells secrete a variety of material which inter alia constitutes the seminal fluid [2]. Namely, the prostatic secretion, together with the fluids from seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands, form the seminal fluid that promotes the survival and movement of spermatozoa. Proteolytic enzymes, citric acid, zinc, acid phosphatase and lipids represent the main constituents of prostatic secretion [7].

1.2 Health significance of prostate drainage

Frequency of ejaculation, actually the process of seminal fluid discharging (which includes prostate drainage), is linked with prostate health in several studies. Moderately frequent ejaculation (2–4 times per week) has been associated with a significantly decreased risk of prostate cancer [8]. Some authors suggest that frequent ejaculation seems to be protective from prostate cancer development [9], especially if practiced in early adult life [10]. The frequency of ejaculations/week in the fourth or fifth decade of life has been shown to have no significant impact on later prostate outcomes [10]. In line with this, a study using follow-up data on a significant number of US men (aged 46–81 years), suggests that ejaculation frequency is not related to increased risk of prostate cancer [11]. Keeping in mind the mediating role of androgen receptors in prostate cancer initiation and progression [12, 13], as well as a significant link between higher levels of sexual activity and elevated testosterone [14, 15, 16], the existence of certain correlation between the frequent, repetitive ejaculations (followed by testosterone rise) and prostate cancer risk appears possible. In support of this, Parsons et al. [17] reported that higher levels of serum free testosterone are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Conversely, it was suggested that prostate cancer is not observed in eunuchs and total androgen suppression by castration [18]. Further research is needed to shed light on this interesting question and important concern. Note that nocturnal emissions (“wet dreamsˮ) may also participate in the process of prostate drainage. However, they are reported to be rather rare, with a frequency of about 0.3 per week in single men under thirty years old [19]. No association was observed between ejaculation frequency in early adulthood and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH [20]. Interestingly, lions and dogs (hypercarnivores that exhibit seasonal mating) are known to spontaneously develop prostate cancer [21]. On the other hand, non-human primates (which also exhibit a distinct seasonal pattern of mating but have a mixed diet, predominantly based on plant foods) usually do not develop prostatic diseases, with the exception of rhesus macaques which can develop prostate cancer [22, 23]. The frequency of prostate discharge, through the act of mating in animals, appears to be less important for the potential development of prostate cancer than diet. As the development of malignant prostatic disease in men of advanced age actually may arise from an earlier lifestyle or diet [24, 25], it is useful to consider that prostate health may be affected by a gastrointestinal–rectal influence on prostate drainage.

3.1 Physiological considerations

While fecal matter accumulates in the rectum, the anal canal regulates continence and defecation through complex interactions between sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, striated and smooth muscles as well as other environmental factors [26]. Stretching of the intestinal lumen by a stool provides the stimulus for initiating defecation [26]. The inner rectal pressure, actually the pressure of fecal matter on the rectal walls, generated by defecation, compresses the prostate’s peripheral side and thereby aids prostate drainage (Fig. 1). There is a similarity between such physiological events in men and the pressure on perianal glands during defecation in dogs [34]. These sebaceous and serous glands are localized in the walls of dog anal sacs, open beside the anus and their product supposedly serves as a marker (Fig. 2) [34]. Normal emptying of the perianal glands that are a target tissue of sex steroid hormones [35] occurs as the stool passes over the glands and exerts radial pressure in the anal canal. Considering that the defecation mechanism in men includes contraction of the abdominal, recto-anal and pelvic floor muscles [36] it is expected that external compression of the rectum and prostate also occurs (Fig. 1). The net results of the described pressures during defecation likely cause prostate drainage independent of ejaculation-induced drainage, but complementary to this mechanism. Importantly, defecation-caused prostate drainage is not related to elevated testosterone levels that follow sexual activity and theoretically may increase the risk of prostate cancer [12, 13, 14, 37, 38, 39]. Occasionally, a warm water enema may be considered for hygienic purposes [40] as well as the efficacy of defecation-caused prostate drainage.

Fig. 1.Functional-anatomic arrangement of the human rectum and prostate that enables defecation-caused prostate drainage. Arrowheads, the inner rectal pressure generated by transiting fecal matter; Arrow, external compression of the rectum and prostate, due to contraction of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles.

Fig. 2.Schematic representation of perianal glands in dogs. Curved arrows, stool radial pressure in the anal canal, which causes emptying of the perianal glands.

As zinc accumulates in the prostate [41, 42], frequent ejaculations may reduce its levels and adversely affect prostate homeostasis and general immunity [41, 42, 43, 44]. In the light of recent pandemic, it should be noted that most risk groups for COVID-19 are associated with zinc deficiency [45]. Also, serum testosterone level rises drastically at the moment of ejaculation [46]. Obviously, temperance in sexual activity, which minimizes high circulating testosterone levels and zinc loss, appears to be beneficial for prostate health, which corresponds to the Ancient Greek maxim “Nothing in excessˮ, inscribed on Apollo’s temple in Delphi. In support of this, the study performed on a large cohort of Catholic priests in New York State linked celibacy with significantly reduced prostate cancer mortality [47]. Interestingly, the protective effect of celibacy in nuns for cancer of the cervix is even more pronounced [48]. Given that prostate cancer and cervical cancer have different etiology and pathology, this parallel, however, has no mechanistic dimension. The rate of colorectal cancer mortality in the priests was also less than that of the general noncelibate male population [47]. A zinc loss upon prostate drainage related to defecation is only speculative at this level of knowledge, so further monitoring studies are needed in this respect.

3.2 Dietary considerations

A combination of physical activity, sufficient fluid intake and adequate diet (all affecting the stool formation/defecation) [49] are needed for a beneficial rectum-prostate physical interaction and subsequent prostate drainage. A broader dietary aspect is of particular interest in this context.

Various classes of dietary polyphenols (soy isoflavones, flavonols from onion, flavanols from green tea, etc.) represent secondary metabolites of plants having protective effects against the development of prostate diseases as well as having a significant role in slowing the progression of prostate cancer [13, 24, 50]. Polyphenols inter alia may modulate various signaling pathways, downregulate prostate cancer cell androgen receptors, reverse the epithelial to mesenchymal transition of these cells, decrease the expression of prostate-specific antigen and matrix metalloproteinase, contribute to epigenetic changes associated with the fate of cancer cells, affect microRNA expression as well as suppress the angiogenesis that follows prostate cancer growth [13, 51]. There is a bi-directional relationship between ingested polyphenols and the gut microbiota. Polyphenols may impact composition of the gut microbiota and improve digestion, while gut bacteria metabolize polyphenols into bioactive forms that provide health benefits [52, 53].

Polyphenolic extracts increased gastrointestinal transit in rats [54]. Cocoa polyphenols improved stool consistency in mice, and a prune polyphenol-laxative effect was also proposed in humans [55, 56]. Dietary fibers, present in plant-based diets together with polyphenols, were demonstrated to increase stool weight, frequency of defecation and gastrointestinal transit in healthy men [57]. Importantly, no association was reported between a vegan diet and serum total and free testosterone levels [58]. It appears that plant based, polyphenol- and fiber-rich diets and resulting bulk stool formation, as well as efficient defecation, may positively affect prostate drainage as noted herein. Although rare, BPH can cause acute colonic obstruction [59], indicating some possible negative consequences of the functional-anatomic arrangement we highlight in this work. Finally, it should be noted that zinc supplementation is strongly suggested for prostate health preservation [44]. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle agenda, and care of gastro-intestinal function based on data herein should be considered for a healthy prostate gland.