[Relationship between the amount of nitric oxide and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between nitric oxide(NO) and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men.


METHODS
Copper-coated cadmium reduction fluorescence assay was used to detect nitrate, the metabolic product of NO. The apoptosis and ultrastructure of germ cells were detected and observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electronls microscope (TEM), respectively.


RESULTS
In normal control group, concentration of NO and the apoptotic rate of germ cells were (56.83+/-11.65) micromol/L and (4.60+/-1.25)%, respectively; while in inferile group were (128.86+/-23.76) micromol/L and (17.36+/-3.05)%, respectively. The differences in NO concentration and the apoptotic rate of germ cells between the two groups were significant (P<0.01). The concentration of NO was positively correlated with the apoptotic rate of germ cells in infertile group (r=0.96). The apoptotic germ cells showed typical morphology of apoptosis, including nuclear chromatin condensation and margination, nuclear memberane folding, and formation of apoptotic bodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The amount of NO in semen from infertile men has close relationship with apoptotic rate of germ cells. High concentration of NO may result in the increase of germ cell apoptosis rate and lead to male infertility.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. YangMg@fmmu.edu.cn
Mai-gui
MG
Yang
Yang
Y
Yang
Ping
P
Huang
Xiao-ke
XK
Hao
Shan-luan
SL
Zheng
Zhu-ying
ZY
Zhang
Guo-zhou
GZ
Rao
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide