[Relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide level and nitric oxide synthase activity in testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between germ cells apoptosis and alterations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nitric oxide(NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the testes of rats submitted to alcohol drinking.


METHODS
Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (3 months old) were randomly divided into two groups: control group and experimental group. 50% alcohol and distilled water were administered intragastrically at a dose of 10 ml/kg body weight to two groups of rats respectively. After twenty-six days, the biochemical parameters (T-AOC, NO level and NOS activity) were measured with spectrophotometric determination. The TdT-mediated dUTP-X nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique was used to detect germ cells apoptotic index (AI).


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, AI was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the experimental group; T-AOC level reduced obviously (P < 0.01), but NO level and NOS activity increased predominantly ( P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The excessive production of NO caused by the increasing of NOS activity and the decreasing of T-AOC may be the main causes that alcohol overtaking induces germ cells apoptosis.
Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
Shun-li
SL
Wu
Shi-wen
SW
Li
Xin-min
XM
Zheng
Li-quan
LQ
Hu
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase