ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mischief mechanism of oxidative stress in the varicocele (VC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum was taken from the spermatic and peripheral veins on ligation of the internal spermatic veins in 28 infertile males with VC. Experimental VC was established in male rats by partial ligation of the left renal vein. And testis tissue was taken three months after operation. The nitric oxide(NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), xanthine oxidase (XO), lactic acid(Lac) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum of 28 infertile males with VC and the testis tissue of the VC rats were detected by spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NO, NOS, XO and Lac in the serum of internal spermatic veins in the infertile males with VC were significantly higher than in the serum of peripheral veins in the VC patients (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). LDH was lower than that in peripheral serum. NO and XO of the left testis tissue in the VC rats were higher compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Lac in the left testis of the VC rats was lower than that in the control group rats (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NO, NOS and XO in the serum of the VC patients and in the testis tissues of the VC rats were increased, and Lac and LDH were changed obviously, which might not only disturb spermatogenesis, but also inhibit sperm motility. Therefore they might be one of the causes of infertility in VC patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Infertility, Male , Nitric Oxide , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Oxidative Stress , Rats, Wistar , Varicocele , Metabolism , Xanthine OxidaseABSTRACT
AIM: The cytoplasm Ca 2+, expression of Bcl-2 and Bax and germ cell apoptosis of testes in adult male rats with varicocele were observed to investigate the relationship between apoptosis and infertility. METHODS: Thirty-five healthy male Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly: varicocele group (VG, n=20) and sham operation group (SOG, n=15). Bilateral testes were removed after ten weeks. One part of it was homogenized, the other part was performed for tissue sectioning. The atomic absorption method was used to detect the cytoplasm Ca 2+. The germ cell apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. The expression of Bcl-2/Bax was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The cytoplasm Ca 2+ in testes of rats with varicocele was decreased obviously. The apoptosis indexes of germ cells and Bax expression in VG were significantly increased as compared with those in the SOG, while Bcl-2 expression was obviously decreased. CONCLUSION: The results showed that apoptosis was increased in testes of VG rats, suggesting that male infertility with varicocele may be caused by some apoptosis agents such as high temperature, testes toxin and oxygen free radical. The cytoplasm Ca 2+ and change of expression of Bcl-2/Bax may contribute to germ cell apoptosis and cause male infertility.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To observe the effect of ischemic preconditioning on contents of cytochrome C and mitochondrial calcium in rats after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemic model was made by occlusion of right middle artery in Wistar rats (ischemia for 2 h and reperfusion for 4 h). Rats were randomly divided into three groups: ischemia pretreatment, model and sham operation. Rats in ischemic pretreatment group were undergone transient ischemic preconditioning (30 min) and reperfusion (72 h). The contents of cytochrome C were measured according to Zhangjuntian's improved methods. The contents of mitochondrial calcium were detected by flame atom absorption. RESULTS: The contents of mitochondrial cytochrome C and calcium in model group were significantly lower than those in sham operation (P