[Germ cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in experimental torsed/detorsed testes of the adult male rats.


METHODS
Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into torsion group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15) randomly. Animals were submitted to unilateral 720 testicular torsion, then detorsion were done in two hours. Three days later, the evidence of germ cell apoptosis was detected by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
In the torsed testes, the apoptosis index of germ cell and Bax expression significantly increased compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01) while Bcl-2 expression obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cells were mostly pechytene spermatocytes and round spermatides.


CONCLUSIONS
The germ cell apoptosis is highly associated with expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in experimental testicular torsion. Bcl-2/Bax plays an important role in germ cell apoptosis.
Liu
Zi-Ming
ZM
Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
Zheng
Xin-Min
XM
Li
Shi-Wen
SW
Yang
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Hu
Li-Quan
LQ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015870:Gene Expression; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein