PSA is produced for the ejaculate, where it liquefies semen in the seminal coagulum and allows sperm to swim freely.[6] It is also believed to be instrumental in dissolving cervical mucus, allowing the entry of sperm into the uterus.[7]
PSA is present in small quantities in the serum of men with healthy prostates, but is often elevated in the presence of prostate cancer or other prostate disorders.[8] PSA is not uniquely an indicator of prostate cancer, but may also detect prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia.[9]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Wimpissinger F, Stifter K, Grin W, Stackl W (September 2007). "The female prostate revisited: perineal ultrasound and biochemical studies of female ejaculate". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 4 (5): 1388–93, discussion 1393. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00542.x. PMID17634056.
^Balk SP, Ko YJ, Bubley GJ (January 2003). "Biology of prostate-specific antigen". Journal of Clinical Oncology. 21 (2): 383–391. doi:10.1200/JCO.2003.02.083. PMID12525533.
^Catalona WJ, Richie JP, Ahmann FR, Hudson MA, Scardino PT, Flanigan RC, et al. (May 1994). "Comparison of digital rectal examination and serum prostate specific antigen in the early detection of prostate cancer: results of a multicenter clinical trial of 6,630 men". The Journal of Urology. 151 (5): 1283–1290. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(17)35233-3. PMID7512659.