Comparative study on apoptosis in the testes of normal and alcoholic rats.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the tissue injury associated with long-term alcohol consumption in male gonads. To this end, apoptotic testicle tissues of alcoholic rats were compared with the testicle tissues of the control rats. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy and Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey during the period 2002 to 2003. We used Sprague-Dawley rats as the subject material in the investigation of apoptosis. We divided the rats into 2 groups: alcoholic rats and the control group, with 10 adult male rats in each group. We housed the subjects in each group under controlled temperature (22 +/- 3 degrees C) and humidity (62 +/- 7%) and lighting (12 hours darkness and 12 hours daylight per day). We fed the rats in the alcoholic group by ethanol in liquid diet for 12 weeks while the control rats received the normal isocaloric diet. We fixed the testicle tissues of both groups by perfusion of 10% formaldehyde through left ventricle and then removed. We further fixed the tissues in formaldehyde solution for at least 2 days. After dehydration by ethanol, we embedded the tissue in paraffin and used serial paraffin sections (5 micron thickness) for immunohistochemistry. We used Caspase-3 Ab-4 (CPP32) antibody to identify caspase reaction in apoptotic regions. Hence, we observed the stained sections and photographed the apoptotic seminiferous tubules (ST). For comparison of apoptosis in the alcoholic group and control group, we counted the apoptotic germ cells in x 400 magnification under light microscope. RESULTS: The diameters of seminiferous tubules were measured using light microscope with micrometre. The findings were compared by computer and significant differences in apoptosis between 2 groups (p<0.01) were detected. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis is significantly induced in ethanol treated rat related to the overuse of ethanol. The findings indicate the tissue injury of testicles associated with alcohol consumption.

Volumetric determination of medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle of humerus in male and female volleyball players.

The aim of this study was to assess the volume of the medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle in comparison with the distal end of humerus volume in male and female elite athletes participating in an impact loading sport (volleyball). The volleyball group consisted of 17 female, aged 20.47 +/- 2.47 years (mean +/- SD), 16 male aged 21.68 +/- 3.47 years (mean +/- SD); training for about 8 hours/week. The control group consisted of 15 nonactive females aged 21.73 +/- 2.68 years (mean +/- SD) and 14 nonactive males aged 23.35 +/- 4.16 years (mean +/- SD). Anthropometric determinations (height, weight, limb length, girth of arm and forearm) were made on each subjects. Range of motion was evaluated by standard goniometric technique. Comparative plain films of both elbows were obtained in an anteroposterior projection. The volumes of the medial epicondyle and lateral epicondyle were determined by the principle of Cavalieri which is an effective stereologic volume calculation method. In the volleyball players, increased medial epicondyle volume was recorded in the dominant and nondominant arms as compared with the control subjects (P < 0.05). Wrist flexors are highly involved in spiking, blocking and serving in volleyball. In this study we founded volume of medial epicondyle which is the connection point of flexor muscle was increased because of loading.