OBJECTIVETo study the effects of experimental varicocele (VC) on the serum testosterone (T) and intratesticular testosterone in adolescent rats.

METHODSA VC rat model was established by partial ligation of the left kidney vein in 20 SD rats, and another 20 were included in a sham operation group as controls. At 4 and 8 weeks, the concentrations of the serum T and intratesticular T were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The testis tissues were homogenized and the extract liquid taken for RIA.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the level of serum T declined at 4 and 8 weeks in the VC group, but not significantly (P > 0.05), so was that of bilateral intratesticular T at 4 weeks, and with statistical significance at 8 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWithin 8 weeks, experimental VC could reduce the level of bilateral intratesticular T, but not that of serum T. Varicocele could damage Leydig cells.

Animals ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the specific protein in the epididymal luminal fluid that may play a role in sperm epididymal maturation or modification on the surface of spermatozoa.

METHODSWe compared the differential protein components in the lumen fluids from the caput and cauda segments of the epididymis of normal rats as well as from the cauda segment of experimental left varicocele (ELV) rats by SDS-PAGE or 2D-electrophoresis. The protein spots of interest were selected for MS identification, and the target proteins further characterized by immuno-blot assay.

RESULTSMS analysis showed that one of the most prominent proteins, M(r) 22 000, was identical to the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PBP), and it was further identified as PBP by immuno-blot assay.

CONCLUSIONPBPs were present in a variety of molecular forms in the epididymal luminal fluid, including the glycosylated form, and ELV markedly elevated the PBP level in the cauda luminal fluid of the rats. Thus, the association of this molecule with sperm surface modification remains an interest for future investigation.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of experimental varicocele on mitochondria calcium and cytochrome C of the epididymal cells in adolescent rats.

METHODSForty male adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly: varicocele group (VG) and sham operation group (SOG) by partial ligation or exposure of the left renal vein. Bilateral epididymides were removed after ten

RESULTSThe content of mitochondria weeks. Mitochondria calcium and cytochrome C levels of the epididymal cells were detected. calcium decreased (P < 0.001 ) while that of cytochrome C increased (P < 0.05) markedly in the experimental group compared with SOG.

CONCLUSIONCalcium dyshomeostasis and mitochondrial damage of the epididymal cells caused by varicocele may play an important role in leading to subfertility.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; analysis ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Male ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effects of varicocele (VC) on IL-1 and NO levels in testes of rats with VC.

METHODSMale adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly, VC group (n = 30) and pseudo-operation group (n = 20), and the levels of IL-1 and NO in the testes were determined and compared.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-1 and No of left tests in VC group were higher than those in pseudo-operation group, respectively(P < 0.01). While the levels of IL-1 and NO of right testes between two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). More over, the level of IL-1 correlated significantly with that of NO(r = 0.572, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results revealed that the changes of IL-1 and NO levels in the testes of rats with VC might be the reason which caused testes damage, disturbance of spermatogenesis and even infertility.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis of experimental varicocele (EV) rats.

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 4-week EV (n = 12), 8-week EV (n = 12), 4-week control (n = 8), and 8-week control (n = 8). EV models were established by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The expressions of leptin and its receptor in the rat epididymis were measured by immunohistochemistry, and their mRNA expressions determined by real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis were significantly higher in the 4- and 8-week EV groups than in the 4- and 8-week control groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two EV groups (P > 0.05). So were their mRNA expressions in the former two than in the latter two groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the former two (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of leptin and its receptor are markedly increased in the epididymis of varicocele rats. Leptin may be involved in the mechanisms of varicocele inducing male infertility.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Leptin ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of improved experimental left varicocele (ELV) on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B (InhB).

METHODSELV models were established by the improved method in 30 SD rats, and another 30 were included in a sham operation group as controls. Three months after the operation, the concentrations of the FSH and InhB were assayed by ELISA.

RESULTSThe concentration of FSH in the serum was significantly higher in the experimental group ([37.56 +/- 9.72] ng/ml) than in the control ([26.69 +/- 5.33] ng/ml) (P < 0.05), while that of InhB significantly lower in the former ([349.93 +/- 99.48] pg/ml) than in the latter ([768. 83 +/- 146.96] pg/ml) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONImproved ELV can increase FSH and reduce InhB in rats, which may be associated with subfertility.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (CRES) protein in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats.

METHODSThe ELV model of Sprague-Dawley (SD) male adolescent rats was established, and the expression of CRES protein in the testis and epididymis was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western-blot at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry and Western-blot detected CRES protein in both the testis and the epididymis of the ELV rats and the control rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that within the testis, CRES protein was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of round spermatids and elongating spermatids, sperm acrosomes and residual bodies. The expression was most intensive at Stages I-III and IX-XIV, and then decreased gradually at Stages VII-VII and IV-VI. Within the epididymis, CRES protein was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of the principal cells of epididymal epithelia. Western-blot detected CRES protein in Mr 19,000 and 14,000, stronger in the former than in the latter. Image and statistical analyses showed that the expression of CRES protein in the 2-week and 4-week ELV groups was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCRES protein expressed in both the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats and the expression is stage-specific and cell-specific in the testis and segment-specific and cell-specific in the epididymis. The expression of CRES protein in the ELV rats is much stronger than in their corresponding controls. It is suggested that CRES protein may be significantly involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, and possibly associated with varicocele-related male infertility or subfertility.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cystatins ; biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), total antioxidants content (TAC) and sialic acid (SA) from the unilateral epididymis of experimental varicocele in adolescent rats, and to illuminate the effects of varicocele on unilateral epididymis epithelium.

METHODSExperimental left varicocele model of 16 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were established by partial ligation of left renal vein. The epididymis were collected for detecting the content of MDA, TAC and SA by using spectrophotometry.

RESULTSThere was statistically significant differences in the contents of three substances between experimental varicocele and sham-operated groups.

CONCLUSIONThe content of MDA, TAC and SA will change and the sialic acid-secreting-function of unilateral epididymis will be injured because of varicocele.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Male ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid ; metabolism ; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Capsule (QC) on the oxidative amd antioxidative system in the epididymis of varicocele rats in comparison with those of Shaofuzhuyu Capsule (SC) and Wuziyanzong Capsule (WC), and to explore its possible mechanism of enhancing epididymal sperm maturation.

METHODSTen of 100 adolescent male SD rats were randomized to a sham-operation group, and varicocele models were successfully established in 72 of the other 90 by narrowing of the left renal vein. Then the model rats were equally assigned to 6 groups: model control, high-dose QC (0.216 g/ml), medium-dose QC (0.108 g/ml), low-dose QC (0.054 g/ml), SC (0.146 g/ml), and WC (0.130 g/ml). After 4 weeks of treatment, we determined the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the left epididymis of different groups of rats.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, the model group showed a significant decrease in GPx activity (P < 0.01) and a marked increase in the MDA level (P < 0.05). And the high-dose QC group exhibited a significantly hither GPx activity and lower MDA level than all the other groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele can reduce the activity of GPx and elevate the level of MDA in the epididymis of rats, while Qiangjing Capsule can increase the former and decrease the latter, and thereby may improve epididymal microenvironment, enhance epididymal sperm maturation and promote fertility.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with varicocele (VC) infertility.

METHODSFifty-three infertile men, 21 with varicocele and 32 with subvaricocele, were enrolled as Group 1, 29 infertile patients with oligoasthenozoospermia but without varicocele as Group 2 and 28 normal fertile controls as Group 3. The NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma and peripheral blood were measured by nitric acid reductase method, and the semen parameters of VC determined by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA).

RESULTSSignificant differences were noted between Group 1 and the other two in the NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma (P < 0.05) but not in the peripheral blood (P > 0.05). In Group 1, the NO content and NOS activity were increased in both the seminal plasma and peripheral blood with the enhanced diameter of the varicose spermatic vein, with a significant difference only in the seminal plasma between the varicocele and subvaricocele patients (P < 0.05), and the same increase was observed with decreased sperm concentration (> or = 20 x 10(6)/ml and < or = 10 x 10(6)/ml) and motility (> or = 50% and < or = 25%), with significant differences (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNO plays an important role in the VC-induced decrease of seminal quality. For the diagnosis of VC, the determination of the NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma is of more significance than that in the peripheral blood, and the earlier the determination, the greater its clinical value for both the diagnosis and treatment of VC.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Semen ; cytology ; metabolism ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Varicocele ; complications ; metabolism ; Young Adult