Relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide level and nitric oxide synthase activity in testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking.
- Author:
Shun-li WU
1
;
Shi-wen LI
;
Xin-min ZHENG
;
Li-quan HU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Antioxidants; metabolism; Apoptosis; drug effects; Ethanol; toxicity; Germ Cells; cytology; drug effects; Male; Nitric Oxide; metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase; metabolism; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Testis; drug effects; metabolism
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2006;12(1):21-24
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nitric oxide(NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking.
METHODSTwenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (3 months old) were randomly divided into two groups: control group and experimental group. 50% alcohol and distilled water were administered intragastrically at a dose of 10 ml/kg body weight to two groups of rats respectively. After twenty-six days, the biochemical parameters (T-AOC, NO level and NOS activity) were measured with spectrophotometric determination. The TdT-mediated dUTP-X nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique was used to detect germ cells apoptotic index (AI).
RESULTSCompared with the control group, AI was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the experimental group; T-AOC level reduced obviously (P < 0.01), but NO level and NOS activity increased predominantly ( P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONThe excessive production of NO caused by the increasing of NOS activity and the decreasing of T-AOC may be the main causes that alcohol overtaking induces germ cells apoptosis.
