Apoptosis and expression of caspase-3 protein in germ cells of varicocele rats.
- Author:
Lian-jun PAN
1
;
Dian-jun GAO
;
He-peng ZHANG
;
Xi-you WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; biosynthesis; Disease Models, Animal; Germ Cells; cytology; metabolism; Male; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Varicocele; metabolism; surgery
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2006;12(1):53-56
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the expression of caspase-3 in testicular germ cells of rats with experimental left varicocele (ELV) and apoptosis of germ cells.
METHODSTwenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with eight animals each: sham-operation group (SOG), 30-day post-operation group (PG1) and 60-day psot-operation group (PG2). ELV model was established by the partial ligation of the left renal vein. To detect apoptosis of germ cells and expression of caspase-3, TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry (SABC) were used respectively.
RESULTSThe number of caspase-3 positive germ cells per tubular cross section in left and right testes of rats in SOG, PG1, PG2 were 0.1175 +/- 0.0129, 0.2463 +/- 0.0421, 0.2938 +/- 0.0511 and 0.1650 +/- 0.0192, 0.2538 +/- 0.0219, 0.2775 +/- 0.0343, respectively. Compared with SOG, the expression of caspase-3 in bilateral testes of rats in PG1 and PG2 were increased, and the differences were statistically significant(P = 0.0115 and P = 0.0144).
CONCLUSIONExpression of caspase-3 protein increased in germ cells of rats with ELV, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms related to excessive testicular germ cell apoptosis.
