title: Effect of surgically induced varicocele on testicular blood flow and Sertoli cell function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of varicocele on testicular blood flow and expression by Sertoli cells of transferrin and androgen-binding protein (ABP), to determine whether varicoceles impair Sertoli cell function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental varicocele was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The control group received a sham operation. At 30 minutes after surgery, rats underwent a xenon-133 washout study, and at 30 days after surgery, transferrin, ABP, and testicular blood flow were evaluated. Expression of transferrin and ABP were evaluated using immunohistochemical techniques. Testicular blood flow was measured using xenon-133 clearance techniques. Statistical analyses were done with an independent t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The testicular blood flow was 16.7 +/- 1.25 mL/100 g/min in varicocele-bearing rats and 21.01 +/- 0.46 mL/100 g/min in sham-operated rats 30 minutes after surgery. Testicular blood flow remained decreased at 30 days in varicocele-bearing rats (15.12 +/- 1.08 mL/100 g/min) and remained stable in the control group (19.45 +/- 0.55 mL/100 g/min). The expression of transferrin and ABP was significantly reduced in varicocele-bearing rats compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that a decrease in testicular blood flow may lead to impaired Sertoli cell function in varicocele-bearing rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dubocq
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiguert
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gheiler
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Dhabuwala
mesh_terms: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D014168:Transferrin