title: Localization of NGF and nNOS in varicocele-induced rat testis.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is synthesized in male germ cells. The presence of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in Leydig cells is related to its role in the regulation of testosterone release. Varicocele is often characterized by abnormal sperm quality and influences the fertilizing capacity of the haploid gamete. We investigated the localization of NGF and nNOS in testes of adult Wistar rats with experimentally induced varicocele after 9, 11, and 13 weeks, as well as in sham-operated controls by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In control testis, we detected NGF in nuclei of Sertoli cells and also as small vesicular-like structures in the cytoplasm of primary spermatocytes, and in round and elongating spermatids. Varicocele-induction revealed a slight decrease of NGF at 13 weeks, especially in Sertoli cells. In control tissue, nNOS protein was present mainly in Leydig cells and in Sertoli cell cytoplasm. Additionally, nNOS immunoreactivity was present in the heads of elongated spermatids. Western blot results revealed that the decrease of NGF was not significant in the 13-week varicocele group, moreover, the amount of nNOS was not altered in any of the varicocele groups. In conclusion, NGF and nNOS have important roles for normal gametogenesis and our data for the first time indicates that varicocele induction does not necessarily affect the expression of NGF and nNOS. Thus, these two molecules do not appear to be related to varicocele induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. cilercelik@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ciler
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celik-Ozenci
authors.forename: Zubeyde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akkoyunlu
authors.forename: Emin Turkay
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Korgun
authors.forename: Tibet
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erdogru
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seval
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ustunel
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baykara
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I