[Experimental varicocele affects VEGF and Flt-1 protein expressions in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) proteins in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats, and to find out the correlation of the two proteins with varicocele-induced male infertility.


METHODS
We established the ELV model in adolescent male SD rats, and detected the expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins in the testis and epididymis by immunohistochemistry at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery.


RESULTS
Cell- and region-specific expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 were observed in the testis and epididymis of the ELV and control groups. Statistical analysis showed that, in comparison with the corresponding control groups, the 2- and 4-week ELV groups exhibited a notable increase in the VEGF protein expression in the hibateral testis and epididymis (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the Flt-1 expression was obviously upregulated in the hibateral testis and epididymis of the 2-week ELV group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01), but remarkably reduced in the hibateral testis and left epididymis of the 4-week ELV group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with no statistic difference in the right epididymis (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
ELV can cause changes in the expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats, and consequently affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis, which may be one of the causes of varicocele-induced male infertility or subfertility.
Ai
Qing-yan
QY
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Xi 'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. aqy_2001@163.com
Tian
Hong
H
Ma
Li
L
Miao
Nai-zhou
NZ
Huo
Yong-wei
YW
Wang
Hai-xu
HX
Wang
Li-rong
LR
Qiu
Shu-dong
SD
Zhang
Qiu-yang
QY
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467498:vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat; C501164:Flt1 protein, rat; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1