A new species of the genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Guizhou, China.

Asian leaf-litter toads of the genus Leptobrachella represent charismatic anuran diversification with 80 species, of which 25 are from China. Recent new discoveries suggest that the diversity of this genus is underestimated. Here, we describe a new species of Leptobrachella, Leptobrachella bashaensis sp. nov. from the Basha Nature Reserve, Congjiang County, Guizhou Province, China. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following suite of morphological traits: small body size (SVL 22.9-25.6 mm in six adult males and 27.1 mm in one adult female); head longer than wide; dorsal skin slightly shagreened with small tubercles; creamy-white chest and belly with irregular black spots; distinct ventrolateral glands forming a white line; finger webbing and fringes absent; toe webbing rudimentary and lateral fringes narrow; iris bicolored with bright orange in upper half and silver in lower half; dorsal surface of tadpole head dark brown with small, brown, irregular spot, air sac-shaped bulges on both sides of body. The new species differs from all known congeners by an uncorrected p-distance of >5.3% of the 16S rRNA gene fragment examined, and the phylogenetic analysis clusters the new species with L. maoershanensis and L. laui. At present, the new species is only known from a small range of montane evergreen secondary forests in Basha Nature Reserve approximately 900 m elevation. Its natural history and conservation status are discussed.

Clinical Manifestation of Severe Cases with COVID-19 / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To explore the clinical manifestation of COVID- 19 severe cases.【Methods】Clinical data of one severe case with COVID-19 including the clinical characteristic ，laboratory testing results，radiography，treatment，complication and outcome of the patient were retrospectively collected and analyzed.【Results】 The patient with COVID-19 was a 61-year old male，He suffered with underlying disease. His symptoms included fever，cough，myalgia， fatigue，and dyspnea. Laboratory testing results included normal WBC count，decreased lymphocyte cells，elevated LDH and hypoxemia. Radiography findings showed bilateral lung infiltration. His condition deteriorated after intensive treatment for one week. He was intubated and treated with mechanical ventilation because of complicating with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome（ARDS）.【Conclusion】COVID-19 is an emerging acute communicable disease，which lack specific and effective treatment. Most patients have a good prognosis but mortality in severe cases is high. More attention should be paid on the high risk of progression in COVID-19 cases.

Research Progress on Multiple Myeloma-Related Cardiovascular Events--Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Abstract　　The patients with multiple myeloma are often accompanied by cardiovascular injuries, that not only related with age, but also with the disease itself and treatment. Timely detection and proper supervision of cardiovascular injuries in patients will reduce the mortality of patients with multiple myeloma. In this review, the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular damages in patients with multiple myeloma are summarized briefly, so as to provide some references for clinical treatment and research.

Estradiol stimulates proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells via estrogen receptor alpha and IGF1 / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ERalpha shRNA expression frame was subcloned to the pGSadeno adenovirus vector by homologous recombination technology to construct the pGSaaeno-ERalpha vector. After the mouse PSMCs were transfected in vitro by pGSaaeno-ERalpha, the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERalpha were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The expression of IGF1 in the ERa-reduced cells was determined by Western blot 6 hours after treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E2) at 10(-8) mol/L. The post-transfection activity of estrogen or exogenous IGF1 in the proliferation of PSMCs was evaluated by MTT chlormetric analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment with E2, the proliferation of PSMCs and the expression of the IGF1 gene were significantly increased in the normal control group (P <0.05), but not obviously changed in the ERalpha-siRNA group (P> 0.05). And exogenous IGF1 failed to induce the proliferation of the ERalpha-reduced PSMCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E2 induces the expression of IGF1 via ERalpha, and IGFl, with the interaction of ERalpha, promotes the proliferation of PSMCs.</p>

Differences in effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on Wei cold model in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on the stomach cold syndrome in a Wei cold model in rats. METHODS: The rat Wei cold model was established by intragastric administration of glacial NaOH, and the gastric mucosa injury indices, together with the levels of motilin and gastrin in the stomach, were determined. The preventive and curative effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on gastric mucosa injury were investigated. RESULTS: Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas could protect the gastric mucosa in the gastric cold model in rats at different levels. Fanzuojin Pills had the best effect in inhibiting gastric mucosa injury. CONCLUSION: The different pharmacological effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas in the rat gastric cold model were partially correlated with the degrees in cold and heat properties of the formulas.

Expression of estrogen receptor beta in benign prostatic hyperplasia complicated by chronic prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complicated by chronic prostatitis, and to evaluate the correlation of chronic prostatitis with ERbeta expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Histological sections of prostate tissues were obtained from 60 BPH patients complicated by chronic prostatitis and divided into Group 1 (Grade 1), 2 (Grade 2) and 3 (Grade 3) according to the scores on the inflammation of the prostate tissues using the four-point scale designed by Irani et al. The expression of ERbeta was determined by the immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 24 cases (40%) in Group 1, 21 (35%) in Group 2 and 15 (25%) in Group 3, with no statistically significant differences in age and prostate volume among the three groups (P > 0.05). The expression of ERbeta was significantly decreased in Groups 2 and 3 as compared with Group 1 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of ERbeta is reduced with increased scores on the inflammation of the prostate tissues in BPH patients, and the decreased ERbeta expression may be associated with the inflammatory stimulation of prostatitis.</p>

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on cavernous nerve regeneration in a rat model / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on cavernous nerve (CN) regeneration and functional status in a nerve-crush rat model. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: eight had a sham operation, eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention and eight underwent bilateral nerve crushing with an immediate application of PRP on the site of injury. Erectile function was assessed by CN electrostimulation at 3 months and nerve regeneration was assessed by toluidine blue staining of CN and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase staining of penile tissue. Three months after surgery, in the group that underwent bilateral nerve crushing with no further intervention, the functional evaluation showed a lower mean maximal intracavernous pressure (ICP) and maximal ICP per mean arterial pressure (MAP) with CN stimulation than those in the sham group. In the group with an immediate application of PRP, the mean maximal ICP and maximal ICP/MAP were significantly higher than those in the injured control group. Histologically, the group with the application of PRP had more myelinated axons of CNs and more NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerve fibres than the injured control group but fewer than the sham group. These results show that the application of PRP to the site of CN-crush injury facilitates nerve regeneration and recovery of erectile function. Our research indicates that clinical application of PRP has potential repairing effect on CN and peripheral nerves.

The effect of diethylstilbestrol on inducing abdominal cryptorchidism and relevant genetic expression in rats / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) at different doses on transabdominal testicular descent in rats and the expression of INSL3 in the testis and HOXA10 in the gubernaculum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifty E13.5 (embryonic day 13.5) pregnant female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups that received a subcutaneous injection of DMSO, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg DES (group A, B, C, D and E), respectively. Male offspring were killed at E19.5, and then fetal mortality, the degree of transabdominal testicular ascent (DTA) was determined by a stereomicroscope. The mRNA expressions of INSL3 in the testis and HOXA10 in the gubernaculum were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of INSL3 protein was determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Male fetal mortality in group A, B, C, D, and E were 3.57%, 6.90%, 12.00%, 19.23% and 36.36%, respectively, which showed a dose-effect relationship between DES and the male fatal mortality (r=0.999, P<0.01). DTA in group B, C, D and E were (23.7+/-1.7) U, (38.8+/-1.9) U, (49.3+/-1.8) U and (58.6+/-2.1) U that were significantly larger than that in group A [(8.5+/-1.3) U] (q=46.12, 88.53, 120.44 and 141.37, respectively, P<0.01). There was also a dose-effect relationship between DES and DTA. In group B, C, D, and E, the expression of INSL3 mRNA were 0.9570+/-0.1490, 0.6760+/-0.1380, 0.0170+/-0.0040 and 0.0013+/-0.0003, respectively; the expressions of INSL3 protein were 0.8360+/-0.1520, 0.5310+/-0.1070, 0.0140+/-0.0020 and 0.0011+/-0.0003, respectively, which were significantly larger than the expression of INSL3 mRNA (1.801+/-0.126) and INSL3 protein (1.612+/-0.134) in group A (qmRNA=40.4840, 52.4402, 83.1585 and 82.0582, respectively, and qprotein=38.6151, 52.2747, 77.2756 and 76.1983, respectively, P<0.01). The expression of HOXA10 mRNA in group A, B, C, D, and E were 0.945+/-0.125, 0.940+/-0.119, 0.656+/-0.115, 0.544+/-0.118 and 0.463+/-0.114, respectively. Compared with the expression of HOXA10 mRNA in group A, the expression of group B was not significantly different (q=0.2213, P>0.05), those in other groups were down-regulated significantly (q=12.4304, 17.2477 and 20.2789, respectively, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DES inhibited transabdominal testicular descent dose-dependently via down-regulating the expression of INSL3. HOXA10 may play no role in low-dosage DES induced intra-abdominal cryptorchidism, but down-regulated HOXA10 mRNA was involved in high-dosage DES induced ones.</p>

Prenatal exposure to diaethylstilbestrol in the rat inhibits transabdominal testicular descent with involvement of the INSL3/LGR8 system and HOXA10 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Prenatal exposure to diaethylstilbestrol (DES) has been found to lead to intra-abdominal cryptorchidism, but the mechanism is still not completely clear. This study investigated the roles of the INSL3/LGR8 system and HOXA10 in DES-induced intra-abdominal cryptorchidism (DIIAC). The effect of DES on steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), that has been reported to control transcription of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), was also investigated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty pregnant female SD rats at embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) were randomly assigned to five groups that received a subcutaneous injections of dimethyl sulfoxide (control), 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg of DES. Male offspring were sacrificed at E19.5, and fetal mortality and the degree of transabdominal testicular ascent (DTA) were determined under a stereomicroscope. The mRNA expression of INSL3 and SF-1 in the testis and leucine rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptors 8 (LGR8) and homeobox-A10 (HOXA10) in the gubernaculum were determined by RT-PCR. The expression of INSL3 protein was determined by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Higher fetal mortality and DTA were induced by DES in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of INSL3 and SF-1 mRNA were down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01), as was INSL3 protein; HOXA10 in the 2.5 mg/kg group and LGR8 mRNA in the 2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05); HOXA10 mRNA in groups C, D, and E decreased significantly and LGR8 mRNA levels in groups D and E increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DES can inhibit transabdominal testicular descent in a dose-dependent manner via down-regulating the expression of INSL3, which is induced by down-regulating the expression of SF-1. HOXA10 may not be involved in DES induced intra-abdominal cryptorchidism at 2.5 mg/kg, but is involved at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. LGR8 may not be responsible for DES-induced transabdominal testicular maldescent.</p>

Intraprostatic urinary reflux associated prostatitis caused by partial urethral obstruction in the rat model / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS) by constructing the rat model of intraprostatic urinary reflux associated prostatitis caused by partial urethral obstruction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four SD male rats were divided into an experiment group (n = 30) and a partial urethral obstruction (PUO) sham operation group (n = 24). Shinsuke Takechi's surgical method was adopted to achieve PUO and induce intraprostatic urinary reflux in the experiment group. While in the sham operation control group, the prostates were harvested at 1, 3 and 7 days after release from 3-day PUO, their morphological changes observed with the light microscope and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) examined by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Inflammation was observed in the prostate of the experiment group at 1, 3 and 7 days after release from PUO and alleviated with the passing of time, while the control group remained normal. The expression of COX-2 in the prostate was significantly higher in the experiment group than in the control (P < 0.05) and the staining of COX-2 became stronger with the lapse of time (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An animal model of intraprostatic urinary reflux associated prostatitis was constructed. The up-regulated expression of COX-2 induced by intraprostatic urinary reflux may be closely related with the development of CP / CPPS.</p>

Impacts of denervation on the morphology and expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase of prostate of adolescent rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the impacts of denervation on the morphology and the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) of prostate of the adolescent rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adolescent male SD rats were randomly divided into group A and group B. The right pelvic ganglion denervation was performed in group B with the help of surgical microscope, and group A received a sham operation. Five weeks later, the ventral prostates were obtained for morphologic observation, apoptosis detection and the evaluation of nNOS expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 30.8% reduction of right ventral prostate (RVP) fresh weight was found in group B. After denervation, histological features showed an overall decrease in the numbers of cells and cell height, and apoptosis indexes (AI) was significantly higher than that in group A (P <0.01), while the expression of nNOS decreased apparently (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study indicates that denervation can cause apoptosis of the prostatic, and affect the prostate growth of the adolescent rat. During this process, nNOS plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis.</p>

Protective effect of pentoxifylline on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into three groups randomly, each comprising 8 rats. In Group I, rats underwent a sham operation. In Group II and III, animals were submitted to unilateral 720 degrees testicular torsion, then detorsion in two hours. Infusion of isotonic saline and pentoxifylline into tail vein was initiated 15 minutes prior to relief of torsion in Group II and III respectively. Twenty four hours later, testes were examined for evidence of germ cell apoptosis by the flow cytometry and the level of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with that of group II, the number of apoptotic germ cell and the level of MDA decreased remarkably in Group III, but T-AOC increased significantly (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pentoxifylline provided significant rescue of testicular function after acute experimental torsion.</p>

Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the impairment of contralateral testes of unilateral cryptorchidism in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchid rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (namely cryptorchid group and control group), with 10 rats in each group. Cryptorchid animal model was established, and contralateral testes were captured 90 days later. The evidence of germ cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism, apoptosis index of germ cell and Bax expression significantly increased compared with those in the control group, respectively (P < 0.01), while Bcl-2 expression and testis weight obviously decreased (P <0.01). The apoptotic cells were mostly pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The germ cell apoptosis is highly correlated with expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in contralateral testes of experimental unilateral cryptorchidism. Bcl-2/Bax plays an important role in germ cell apoptosis.</p>

Vas-to-Epididymis antidromic injection of 30% ethanol reduces sperm motility in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the reduction of sperm motility in rats induced by vas-to-epididymis antidromic injection of 30% ethanol and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups: bilateral vas injection (n = 15) , sham operation control (n = 15) and normal (n = 10). An aliquot of 0.5 ml of 30% ethanol was injected from vas to epididymis bilaterally. After 1 month, all the rats'vasa and epididymides were ablated for studies of the sperm motility, construction changes of the vas and contents of IL-6, IFN-gamma and carnitine of the epididymis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was markedly significant difference in sperm motility in the injection group (P < 0.01). The number of sperms in the bilateral vas injection group was 31, while in the sham operation control and normal groups was 64 and 68, respectively. The contents of IL-6 and IFN-gamma increased, and the carnitine reduced significantly (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were noted between the control and the normal groups (P > 0.05). The contents of IL-6, IFN-gamma and carnitine in the bilateral vas injection group were 772.7 pg/ml, 350.7 pg/ml and 491.1 mol/L. But the same indexes in the sham operation and normal groups were 308.5 pg/ml, 172. 2 pg/ml and 664. 6 mol/L and 287. 8 pg/ml, 163. 8 pg/ml and 605.5 mol/L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The antidromic injection of ethanol from vas to epididymis can not only interfere the environment for sperm maturation but also activate the immunologic cells that secrete many cytokines (CK) in the genital system. All the factors can induce the reduction of sperm motility.</p>

Antifertility effect of 30% ethanol retro-injection into rat vas deferens / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the antifertility effect and safety of 30% ethanol retro-injection into the vas deferens of the rat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats, 3 m of age and (200 +/- 20) g in weight, were equally randomized into an experimental group and a control group. The former received 30% ethanol (0.5 ml) and the latter 0.9% sodium chloride (0.5 ml), both retro-injected into the vas deferens. Pregnancy rates were obtained through pregnancy tests with 60 Sprague-Dawley female adult rats 1.5 m and 3 m after the injection. All the male rats were sacrificed three months later, and tests were done for the rates of sperm motility and deformity as well as for the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells with TUNEL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 1.5 m pregnancy rate was 0 and the 3 m sperm motility and pregnancy rates were (0.32 +/- 1.12)% and (0.58 +/- 1.27)%, significantly decreased (P < 0.05) as compared with those of the control group, which were (80.62 +/- 2.68)%, (70.68 +/- 1.62)% and (86.62 +/- 1.68)%, respectively. While the 3 m sperm deformity rate in the experimental group was (78.26 +/- 1.08)%, increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis index (AI) of spermatogenic cells was (7.63 +/- 1.16)% as compared with (5.62 +/- 1.32)% of the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Retro-injection of 30% ethanol into the vas deferens of the rat produces significant antifertility effect on rats, but has no significant influence on their spermatogenic cells.</p>

Apoptosis of epididymal epithelium and the content of epididymal carnitine following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of epididymal epithelium and the change of epididymal carnitine following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A (2-hr torsion), Group B (5-hr torsion) and a control group (0-hr torsion). The ipsilateral epididymides were collected for detecting the content of carnitine by DTNB technique and the apoptosis of epididymal epithelium by TUNEL technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-four hours after the treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the apoptosis of epididymal epithelium and the content of epididymal carnitine between the 2-hr torsion/detorsion group and the control (P > 0.05). However, there was statistically significant difference in the apoptosis of epididymal epithelium and the content of epididymal carnitine between the 5-hr group and the control (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Twenty-four hours after 2-hr testicular torsion/detorsion, the carnitine-concentrating function of the epididymis may remain normal and the apoptosis index of epididymal epithelium does not increase significantly, while one day after 5-hr testicular torsion/detorsion, the apoptosis index increases and the carnitine-concentrating function decreases.</p>

IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, levels in the expressed prostatic secretions of patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma and anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta1, in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) of men with chronic abacterial prostatitis and their clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The levels of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, in the EPS of 20 patients with inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type III A), 20 patients with non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (type Ill B) and 10 healthy men were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were analysed comparatively with NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IFN--gamma and TGF-beta1 levels were higher in III ([14.92 +/- 7. 85)], [8477.50 +/- 4612.45] ng/L) and III B ([13.74 +/- 5.96], [7946.50 +/- 5044.06] ng/L) prostatitis patients than those in the controls ([7.47 +/- 1.49], [2462.50 +/- 985.31] ng/L), P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in cytokine levels between III A and Il B prostatitis patients. No correlation was found between NIH-CPSI and cytokine levels, r = 0.02, P = 0.86, r = 0.31, P = 0.76.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IFN-gamma and TGF-beta1, play a very important role in the etiology of chronic abacterial prostatitis and can be the objective parameters in the diagnosis of chronic abacterial prostatitis.</p>

Relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide level and nitric oxide synthase activity in testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nitric oxide(NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (3 months old) were randomly divided into two groups: control group and experimental group. 50% alcohol and distilled water were administered intragastrically at a dose of 10 ml/kg body weight to two groups of rats respectively. After twenty-six days, the biochemical parameters (T-AOC, NO level and NOS activity) were measured with spectrophotometric determination. The TdT-mediated dUTP-X nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique was used to detect germ cells apoptotic index (AI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, AI was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the experimental group; T-AOC level reduced obviously (P < 0.01), but NO level and NOS activity increased predominantly ( P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The excessive production of NO caused by the increasing of NOS activity and the decreasing of T-AOC may be the main causes that alcohol overtaking induces germ cells apoptosis.</p>

Effects of epidermal growth factor on sperm content and motility of rats with surgically induced varicoceles / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the sperm content and motility of the varicocelized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the varicocele, the varicocele repair, the varicocele with EGF and the varicocele repair with EGF groups, whereas the control group only received a sham induction of varicocele. Surgical repair of varicocele was performed 4 months later in the varicocele repair and varicocele repair with EGF groups. EGF administration was performed daily by s.c. injection in the varicocele with EGF and varicocele repair with EGF groups at the dose of 10 microg/(kg.day) from the next day of the second surgery. One month later, all animals were killed and bilateral cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean sperm count and percentage of motile spermatozoa were significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele with EGF group than in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). They were also significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele repair with EGF group than in the varicocele repair and the varicocele with EGF groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGF can improve bilateral epididymal sperm content and motility of the rat with surgically induced varicocele. The administration of EGF in combination with surgical repair is more effective than surgical repair or EGF administration alone. EGF might be useful for the treatment of infertility induced by varicocele.</p>