[Effects of experimental varicocele on the apoptosis of epididymis epithelium and synthesizing function of the epididymis in rats].
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.
Zhao
Yu-gang
YG
Department of Urology, Xiangfan Central Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiangfan, Hubei 441021, China. zhaoyugang@21cn.com
Zhou
Ji
J
Zhang
Xue-jun
XJ
Men
Xiao-wei
XW
Wang
Rui
R
Zhou
Fei
F
Chen
De-hong
DH
Yu
Zhi-yun
ZY
Shi
Hong-bo
HB
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
D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid