title: [Protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on germ cell apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on the germ cell apoptosis in the rat cryptorchid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immature rats (22 day-old Sprague Dawley) were subjected to unilateral cryptorchid. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group (testes still in the scrotum after operation); operation group; operation + L-NAME group(given L-NAME 10 mg/kg after operation, dip). Seven days after operation germ cell apoptosis was detected by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated-dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Biochemical parameters (NO, NOS) were evaluated with spectrophotometric determination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 7th day after the operation, compared with the control, the number of apoptotic germ cells in the cryptorchid testis was increased significantly, but the testis weight was decreased predominantly(P < 0.01). The levels of NO and NOS in the cryptorchid were significantly higher than the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of NO and NOS might be involved in the germ cell apoptosis in the cryptorchid; L-NAME could protect the germ cell from apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats by reducing the activity of NOS and reducing the level of NO in the testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China. gaoxkmn@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-Kang
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: He-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020011:Protective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester