[Effect of zinc deficiency on apoptosis of spermatogenic cells of rat tostis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes of testis apoptosis in zinc deficient rats will promote the understanding of the molecular mechanism of zinc deficiency in the development and function of testis.


METHODS
16 Wistar rats were divided randomly into zinc control group (ZC) and zinc deficiency group (ZD). The serum and testis zinc contents were measured with atomic absorse method; the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was studied with in situ nick translation (ISNT) technique.


RESULTS
Under zinc deficient status, the zinc contents of the serum and testis were obviously decreased (P < 0.05). The apoptosis number of spermatogenic cells was significantly increased (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The adequate amount of zinc is essential to the development of testis, whereas zinc deficiency can harmfully affect it. This effect is perhaps carried out in different ways, but the increasing apoptosis numbers of spermatogenic cells might be one of molecular miechanisms of the effect of zinc defficiency on testis development.
Department of Anatomy, Chinese People's Armed Police Force Medical College, Tianjin.
J
J
Li
P
P
Xu
Z
Z
He
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology
D013739:Testosterone; D015032:Zinc