title: [Experimental varicocele affects the ipsilateral testis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of experimental varicocele (EV) on the ipsilateral testis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  EV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in male SD rats, the control rats subjected to sham operation, and the testes of the EV models and controls were extirpated 6, 12, and 18 weeks later. Johnson's score, ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules, intratesticular testosterone concentration (ITC) and germ cell apoptotic index (AI) of each left testis were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Johnson's scores were (6.92 +/- 0.52), (4.83 +/- 0.41) and (2.95 +/- 0.26), ITCswere (6.32 +/- 0.85), (5.17 +/- 0.76) and (4.11 +/- 0.69) and AIs were (5.32 +/- 1.23), (15.21 +/- 0.97) and (21.13 +/- 1.12) respectively in the 6 w , 12 w and 18 w EV groups, significantly lower than in the corresponding control groups, (9.56 +/- 0.35, 9.63 +/- 0.31, 9.39 +/- 0.46), (9.64 +/- 1.23, 9.38 +/- 0.69, 9.73 +/- 0.49) and (3.21 +/- 1.15, 3.43 +/- 1.21, 3.61 +/- 1. 15) (P < 0.05), the former two showing a gradual decline while the latter a significant elevation with the increasing duration of varicocele. The damage to the ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules was aggravated with the prolonging of varicocele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EV can cause a progressive decline of ITC, dyszoospermia and increased AI of germ cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China. yiqunzheng70@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yi-Qun
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ben-Zheng
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: An-Hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Fei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone