[Apoptosis and expression of caspase-3 protein in germ cells of varicocele rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between the expression of caspase-3 in testicular germ cells of rats with experimental left varicocele (ELV) and apoptosis of germ cells.


METHODS
Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with eight animals each: sham-operation group (SOG), 30-day post-operation group (PG1) and 60-day psot-operation group (PG2). ELV model was established by the partial ligation of the left renal vein. To detect apoptosis of germ cells and expression of caspase-3, TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry (SABC) were used respectively.


RESULTS
The number of caspase-3 positive germ cells per tubular cross section in left and right testes of rats in SOG, PG1, PG2 were 0.1175 +/- 0.0129, 0.2463 +/- 0.0421, 0.2938 +/- 0.0511 and 0.1650 +/- 0.0192, 0.2538 +/- 0.0219, 0.2775 +/- 0.0343, respectively. Compared with SOG, the expression of caspase-3 in bilateral testes of rats in PG1 and PG2 were increased, and the differences were statistically significant(P = 0.0115 and P = 0.0144).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of caspase-3 protein increased in germ cells of rats with ELV, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms related to excessive testicular germ cell apoptosis.
Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang, Shandong 261042, China.
Lian-jun
LJ
Pan
Dian-jun
DJ
Gao
He-peng
HP
Zhang
Xi-you
XY
Wang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
D053148:Caspase 3