title: [Effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium and synthesizing function of the epididymis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationships of experimental varicocele to the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium and changes of the contents of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and sialic acid from the unilateral epididymis in adolescent rats, and to investigate the effects of varicocele on the unilateral epididymis epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental left varicocele models of 16 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were obtained by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The epididymides were collected for detecting the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium and the contents of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and sialic acid by using spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven days after the establishment of the left varicocele model, the index of the apoptosis of the left epididymis epithelium was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and the contents of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and sialic acid significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.005) in the experimental group than in the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that unilateral varicocele may increase the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium and the contents of alpha-1,4-glucosidase and sialic acid and subsequently affect the synthesizing and secretory function of the epididymis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiangfan Central Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiangfan, Hubei 441021, China. zhaoyugang@21cn.com
authors.forename: Yu-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xue-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Men
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: De-hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hong-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid