[Hypoxia promotes apoptosis of germ cells in rat testes].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the apoptosis of germ cells in male rats.


METHODS
Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group raised at sea level; a 5 d, a 15 d and a 30 d hypoxic group raised in a hypobaric chamber simulating 5000 m altitude for 5 days, 15 days and 30 days respectively. Flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to evaluate the apoptosis of germ cells in the testis. Bax and Bcl-2 in the testis were measured by Western blot.


RESULTS
Seminiferous tubules with apoptotic germ cells were significantly more in the hypoxic groups than in the control (P < 0.01). Most apoptotic germ cells were spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Compared with the control group, apoptotic germ cells detected by PI flow cytometry were significantly increased in the hypoxic 15 d and 30 d groups (P < 0.05); Bax was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and so was the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 in the hypoxic 30 d group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxia promotes apoptosis of testicular germ cells in male rats. Chronic hypoxia increases Bax expression in the rat testis.
Liao
Wei-gong
WG
Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Physiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China. weigong@mail.tmmu.com.cn
Gao
Yu-qi
YQ
Cai
Ming-chun
MC
Wu
Yi
Y
Huang
Jian
J
Fan
You-ming
YM
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein