The expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor and its receptor 2 in the epididymis of rats with chronic arsenic poisoning / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and apoptosis in the epididymis of rats with chronic arsenic poisoning.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighting 160-200 g,were selected and randomly divided into four groupshigh dose [60.0 mg/L sodium arsenite (NaAsO2)],medium dose (12.0 mg/L NaAsO2),low dose arsenic infected groups (2.4 mg/L NaAsO2),and control group (distilled water).The rats were treated with arsenic through drinking water for 6 consecutive months.At the end of the experiment,all rats were killed and epididymis was separated rapidly,apoptosis cells of rat epididymis were determined via the TUNEL method,the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 were observed through immunohistochemistry.Results The apoptosis of the epididymis tubules epithelial cells were compared in control,low,medium,and high dose groups (124.68 ± 6.59,138.96 ± 8.48,152.59 ± 10.79,170.69 ±16.60),the differences were statistically significant (F =10.562,P ＜ 0.05),with increased exposure doses of arsenic,apoptosis cells were increased.VEGF expression levels of the body,head and tail in epididymis were compared in control,low,medium,and high dose groups (148.50 ± 0.60,134.20 ± 0.85,98.23 ± 0.80;136.70 ± 0.95,128.20 ±0.72,90.30 ± 0.12;127.80 ± 0.62,117.60 ± 0.72,84.51 ± 0.60;120.26 ± 0.46,90.12 ± 0.36,66.43 ± 0.90),the differences were statistically significant (F =46.445,45.867,41.381,P ＜ 0.05),and VEGF expression levels in arsenic infected groups were lower than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05);VEGFR2 expression levels of the head and tail (130.70 ± 0.89,128.80 ± 0.70;126.30 ± 0.65,121.42 ± 0.62;120.26 ± 0.12,117.84 ± 0.55;102.60 ±0.78,104.92 ± 1.15) were compared,the differences were statistically significant (F =3.452,2.701,P ＜ 0.05),and VEGFR2 expression levels in arsenic infected groups were lower than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Arsenism has inhibitory effect on the expression of VEGF and VEGFR2 in the epididymis,leading to epididymis epithelial cell apoptosis,which indicates it may play an important role in male infertility.