Protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on germ cell apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on the germ cell apoptosis in the rat cryptorchid.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immature rats (22 day-old Sprague Dawley) were subjected to unilateral cryptorchid. Thirty rats were divided into three groups sham operation group (testes still in the scrotum after operation); operation group; operation + L-NAME group(given L-NAME 10 mg/kg after operation, dip). Seven days after operation germ cell apoptosis was detected by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated-dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Biochemical parameters (NO, NOS) were evaluated with spectrophotometric determination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the 7th day after the operation, compared with the control, the number of apoptotic germ cells in the cryptorchid testis was increased significantly, but the testis weight was decreased predominantly(P < 0.01). The levels of NO and NOS in the cryptorchid were significantly higher than the control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The levels of NO and NOS might be involved in the germ cell apoptosis in the cryptorchid; L-NAME could protect the germ cell from apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats by reducing the activity of NOS and reducing the level of NO in the testis.</p>