title: [Increased expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis of varicocele model rats and their implications].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis of experimental varicocele (EV) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 4-week EV (n = 12), 8-week EV (n = 12), 4-week control (n = 8), and 8-week control (n = 8). EV models were established by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The expressions of leptin and its receptor in the rat epididymis were measured by immunohistochemistry, and their mRNA expressions determined by real-time quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis were significantly higher in the 4- and 8-week EV groups than in the 4- and 8-week control groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two EV groups (P > 0.05). So were their mRNA expressions in the former two than in the latter two groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the former two (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expressions of leptin and its receptor are markedly increased in the epididymis of varicocele rats. Leptin may be involved in the mechanisms of varicocele inducing male infertility.
authors: Department of Surgery, College of Clinical Medicine, Hubei Institute of Technology, Xianning, Hubei 437100, China. xyzwl800@163.com
authors: Wen-Liang
authors: WL
authors: Zha
authors: Xiao-Bin
authors: XB
authors: Zhang
authors: Yu-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Bai
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Gao
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin