title: [Effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats were randomly divided into four groups: pseudo-operation group, 45 d experimental group, 60 d experimental group and 90 d experimental group. Experimental varicocele was created by partial ligation of left renal vein. The apoptosis number of spermatogenic cells was measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No marked apoptosis peak was observed in the control group, but it was observed in all the other groups, and the height of the peak increased with the duration of experiment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicocele can induce apoptosis of large numbers of spermatogenic cells, and the decrease of spermatogenic cells. This may be the mechanism of varicocele causing male sterility.
authors: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College, Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443002, China.
authors: Chang-Cheng
authors: CC
authors: Zhang
authors: An-Fang
authors: AF
authors: Zhou
authors: Mao-Lin
authors: ML
authors: Zhang
authors: Ji-Gang
authors: JG
authors: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000473:pathology*