Effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats were randomly divided into four groups pseudo-operation group, 45 d experimental group, 60 d experimental group and 90 d experimental group. Experimental varicocele was created by partial ligation of left renal vein. The apoptosis number of spermatogenic cells was measured by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No marked apoptosis peak was observed in the control group, but it was observed in all the other groups, and the height of the peak increased with the duration of experiment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Varicocele can induce apoptosis of large numbers of spermatogenic cells, and the decrease of spermatogenic cells. This may be the mechanism of varicocele causing male sterility.</p>