The influence of vasectomy and vasovasostomy on testicular ATPases, cAMP, ABP and androgen receptor in rabbits.
The present study was performed to further clarify the influences of vasectomy on functions of testis and to disclose the possible mechanisms of infertility after vasovasostomy (VV). Thirty-one rabbits were divided into sham-operated control group (C), vasectomy control group (V), VV fertility group (VaF) and VV infertility group (VaI). Serum testosterone (ST) level, testicular cAMP, androgen binding protein (ABP), nuclear androgen receptor (NAR) concentrations, testis cell membrane Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase activities, sperm density and testis weight were measured. Vasectomy resulted in significantly reduced cAMP, Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase, testis weight and increased ABP; VV completely restore testis weight in VaF and VaI, Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase in VaF, partly cAMP in VaF and VaI, Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase in VaI, but did not restore ABP. The NAR content in VaI was significantly lower than those in C, VaF and V. No statistical differences among 4 groups were seen in Kd values for [3H]-T. ST levels in VaF, VaI and V were insignificantly different compared with C, but the value in VaF was higher than that in VaI (p < 0.05). Sperm density after VV reached 122 +/- 62 x 10(6)/ml in VaF and 10 +/- 24 x 10(6)/ml in VaI, both in VaF and VaI were significantly low compared with C (p < 0.001), and the value in VaI was remarkedly lower than that in VaF (p < 0.001). It was shown that sperm density was positively correlated with cAMP content, Na(+)-, K(+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase activities, but negatively with ABP. These results suggest that vasectomy gives rise to damage to the testis, and vasovasostomy does not appear completely effective in reversing testicular changes.
Dept. of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences (NBUMS), Changchun, P. R. of China.
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Wang
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Zhao
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D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011817:Rabbits; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014659:Vasectomy; D014669:Vasovasostomy
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase