Presence of the brain proteins cerebral cavernous malformation-2 and cerebral cavernous malformation-3 in rat testes and their potential role in experimental varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the distribution of cerebral cavernous malformation-2 (CCM2) and CCM3 proteins in a normal and experimentally induced varicocele model in rat testes.


METHODS
Comparative and controlled study.


METHODS
University animal care and operation unit.


METHODS
Wistar male rats for experimental and control groups.


METHODS
The control group underwent a sham operation. Rats in the experimental groups underwent partial ligation of the renal vein to induce experimental varicocele, and left testicular tissues were analyzed.


METHODS
Tissues were fixed and processed for paraffin-embedded testicular tissues. Levels of CCMs were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
In control and sham-operated testes, CCM2 expression was detected in acrosomes of round spermatids at stages 6-8 and in the heads of elongating spermatids at stages 1-5 and 9-14. CCM3 expression was weakly localized in pachytene spermatocytes at stages 8-12 and strongly immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of round spermatids at stages 1-8 and in elongating spermatid cytoplasm at stages 9-12. Varicocele induction clearly demonstrated histopathological changes due to germ cell degeneration. CCM2 and CCM3 expression increased significantly in varicocele-induced rat testes.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression patterns of two brain proteins were clearly identified in rat testes, suggesting a role during normal and pathological spermatogenesis. This article represents the first demonstration that these proteins have a role outside the central nervous system.
Tanriover
Gamze
G
Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
Sati
Leyla
L
Tekcan
Merih
M
Demir
Necdet
N
Gunel
Murat
M
Celik-Ozenci
Ciler
C
D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C549820:CCM2 protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C549821:PDCD10 protein, rat; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins