Nitric oxide synthase patterns in normal and varicocele testis in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the testes of normal adolescents can produce nitric oxide (NO), by assessing NO synthase (NOS) activity, and whether this activity changes in adolescents with left idiopathic varicocele.


METHODS
After obtaining informed consent, testicular biopsies were obtained from eight adolescents (mean age 16.4 years; controls) who underwent surgery for inguinal hernia or hydrocele, and from 20 adolescents (mean age 16.2 years) operated for left idiopathic varicocele. Inducible and endothelial NOS (iNOS and eNOS) isoforms were investigated in the biopsy specimens by immunohistochemical localization and Western blot analysis using specific fluorescein-conjugated antibodies.


RESULTS
Both normal and pathological samples expressed eNOS at the level of vessels and Leydig cells. The iNOS was expressed in Leydig cells of normal testes and over-expressed in Leydig cells of varicocele testes.


CONCLUSIONS
Leydig cells of adolescent testes constitutively express iNOS. Under pathological conditions, e.g. varicocele, iNOS is up-regulated and is a possible source of NO overproduction. These results could be useful in explaining the pathogenesis of both testis and sperm dysfunction in varicocele.
Santoro
G
G
Department of Biomorphology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Romeo
C
C
Impellizzeri
P
P
Ientile
R
R
Cutroneo
G
G
Trimarchi
F
F
Pedale
S
S
Turiaco
N
N
Gentile
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery
D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II